Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Anthony Corea

Budget Meeting

Attendees tell City of Kamloops budget open house another tax increase verging on 10 per cent is too high

Nov 21, 2024 | 5:16 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops residents were invited to a public budget meeting Wednesday night (Nov. 20) hosted by city administration to provide input on next year’s budget as well as the city’s five-year financial plan.

Dozens of people met with city officials in the Kia Lounge at Sandman Centre for a summary of this year’s provisional budget. An initial presentation on Tuesday at council chambers put the starting taxation increase at 9.67 per cent — one and a half per cent higher than projected.

Those in attendance say the increase is too high.

“Yeah, it’s a lot – especially in consideration of what it was last year, as well,” said one attendee who spoke to CFJC Today. “And [the city] showed a forecast that showed next year is also going to be something similar to 10 per cent. As well as utility rate increases and across-the-board increases to families – I think it’s not insignificant, the combined three-year rate increases between last year, this year and next year.”

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“A lot of detail, which I am happy to see they provided,” said another in attendance. “However, I think 9.67 per cent is unreasonable.”

“All our costs are starting to go up, but I think it’s a hit to the pocketbook for all of us and it’s not sustainable,” noted another man. “As citizens of Kamloops, we really have to think about what services we need and what we’re paying for – and at the end of the day, is it sustainable? Maybe some tough choices need to be made by council.”

Corporate Services Director Dave Hallinan stressed that this is a provisional budget and the city is looking for feedback from Kamloops residents.

“I think we’re going to have to acknowledge some services are going to have to be cut,” said one woman. “[The city] told us they are going to look at that now. I use a lot of the public services – I have two kids and we use a lot of the recreational and playing field services. There’s nothing in there that stood out, but it’s a review of a lot of line items and maybe trying to make small steps that combine to a one or two per cent decrease in the overall rate.”

“Particularly, the big fancy centres need to be taken out of there,” added another attendee. “I think we all agree we need sporting facilities and ice rinks but they can be built in due time. We really need to re-evaluate that whole scenario and cut a lot of those costs.”

More discussions are scheduled before the budget is finalized in the spring. Those meetings will examine ways to offset or lower the increase.