Budget Consultation 2022

At the April 5th Committee of the Whole (COTW) meeting, Kathy Humphrey, the City's Corporate Services Director, provided details on the supplemental items for consideration in the 2022 budget and 2022–2026 Financial Plan. The COTW considered each supplemental item and recommended funding sources based on the options presented. Three items were not approved, and the breakdown of approvals is as follows:

• (22.01) FTE to Support Council Meetings and Cameras | APPROVED | $60,000 from Taxation
• (22.02) New Mausoleum - Hillside Cemetery | APPROVED | $6.1 million from debt offset by anticipated revenue of $11 million
• (22.03) Improving Inclusive Playgrounds | APPROVED | $1,250,000 in 2022 and $350,000 annually (2023-2026) from the Asset Management Fund and the Community Works Fund
• (22.04) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Coordinator | APPROVED | $80,000 from the Gaming reserve
• (22.05) Community Climate Action Plan Funding Strategy | APPROVED | $444,000 in 2022 increasing to $4.4 million annually by 2031 from Taxation
• (22.06) Urban Wildlife Management Strategy | APPROVED | $75,000 from the Gaming reserve
• (22.07) City Hall Exterior LED Lighting System | NOT APPROVED
• (22.08) Public Wi-Fi | NOT APPROVED
• (22.09) Community Request - Norbrock Stadium Venue Improvements | APPROVED | $80,000 from the Gaming reserve
• (22.10) Community Request - Lorne Street Train Whistle Cessation | NOT APPROVED*
• (22.11) Community Request - Kamloops Tennis Centre Courts Rehabilitation | APPROVED** | $225,000 as a loan to the Kamloops Tennis Club from the Community Works Fund
• (22.12) Community Request - Overlander Park Washroom*** | APPROVED | $295,000 in 2022 from the Community Works Fund and $35,000 in 2023

*(22.10) This proposal was rejected; however, Council directed staff to look into grant funding opportunities and to consider options to report back to Council. Council also passed a motion to invite CN Rail to a future Council meeting for discussions about the public’s concerns.

**(22.11) This request was amended by motion. Council approved a loan to the Kamloops Tennis Club rather than paying for the project outright.

***(22.12) This proposal was reworked after public consultation, which reduced the project cost from $700,000 to $325,000.

The report included a summary of changes from the provisional budget to the final budget, including a $35,000 decrease to the property tax requirement and an increase of $400,000 in estimated growth. However, the report cautioned that significant supply chain issues and decreased supply is driving the cost of many products upward. It is likely that these conditions will have a negative impact on the organization’s ability to deliver some services within the current funding levels in 2022.

The projected tax requirement before supplemental items was 4.52%, and after the addition of approved supplemental budget items, it would be 4.92%. The budget and tax requirement will come back to Council for final approval in May.

Over the next few weeks, City Council is considering 12 supplemental items for the 2022 Budget and five-year financial plan. They propose brand new initiatives or changes to service levels in relation to previous years. Decisions regarding supplementals will impact service levels and taxation rates in the years to come. Link to forum pages for each of the 12 supplemental budget items below or in the tab to the right and get involved by posting questions or comments. Let us know which items you think are worthy investments in the immediate future.

The City has also tentatively scheduled an in-person public engagement session on the 2022 Budget for March 10, 2022. Join staff and Council for an update and discussion on the City's 2022 budget and five-year financial plan. Participants will have a chance to review and discuss the provisional budget and proposed supplemental budget items. The 2022 budget and tax requirements will be finalized later in May. This event is tentative based on public health restrictions.

Participate in a supplemental budget item forum:

1. Full Time Employee to Support Council Meetings and Cameras
2. New Mausoleum – Hillside Cemetery
3. Improving Accessible Playgrounds
4. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Coordinator
5. Community Climate Action Plan Funding Strategy
6. Urban Wildlife Management Plan
7. City Hall LED Exterior Lighting
8. Public Wi-Fi
9. Norbrock Stadium Venue Improvements
10. Lorne Street Train Whistle Cessation
11. Kamloops Tennis Centre Rehabilitation
12. Overlander Park Washroom and Event Center

In January Kamloops residents received their 2022 Property Assessments and most have seen a significant increase in the value of their homes. The 2022 average change in assessed value for a single family home in Kamloops is a 27% increase. This significant increase in property value throughout the City does not directly result in significantly higher taxes or higher revenue for the municipal government. Your tax rates are set based on the amount of revenue the City has determined it needs to operate and provide services in 2022. The only time your property assessment should have a significant impact on your property taxes is when the change in your assessed value is significantly higher or lower than the average change in your property class.

The 2022 Tax Estimator Tool is now live on the City website providing residents with a decent estimate of their 2022 Property taxes based on the City’s tax requirements in the provisional budget. There are still variables that could change these numbers including decisions regarding supplemental budget items. Subscribe to this page to get notified when supplemental items are ready for review and learn how you can provide input.

** The average change in property value across all property classes throughout Kamloops in 2022 is 24%. The City is highlighting the average change for single family homes, which is 27%. When tax rates are calculated, they adjust based on your assessed property value change in comparison to the average within your property class. As such, the 27% figure is a better gage of how most Kamloops homeowners measure up, and whether they should expect any impact on their tax rate.

On November 22, around 40 engaged residents attended our budget information session and were able to discuss important budget topics with City staff. Thank you for all your questions and feedback. At the event and online we hosted a brief survey about spending in the 2022 provisional budget. You can find a general overview of the survey results here. These results were shared with Council at the November 30^th Committee of the Whole meeting and will help inform decisions as the 2022 Budget is finalized. Council received the information at the November 30 meeting and directed administration to draft the budget bylaw. The final budget will be approved in the spring of 2022.

If you didn’t get a chance to participate in the survey and want to get involved, please sign up to be notified about our next round of 2022 budget consultations early in the New Year. You can subscribe through the link in the column on the right.

The City of Kamloops has launched consultation on the next City budget through its online engagement portal, LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/Budget2022, and will be hosting an in-person budget information session on Monday, November 22. The City’s budget planning process follows an annual cycle, with opportunities for public input in November and February. Each year, the City updates its five-year financial plan to create and maintain the programs and services that contribute to a thriving community and make residents’ lives clean, enjoyable, and safe.

The November public budget meeting is a key budget cycle activity. The meeting will be held on Monday, November 22, 7:00–9:00 pm, in the Norkam Mechanical Group Lounge at Sandman Centre.

At the meeting, the City will inform residents on the 2022–2026 Five-Year Financial Plan. Residents are encouraged to come to the meeting; ask questions; and learn about the City’s financial planning process, how projects are funded, and how the budget is put together. The public will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the provisional budget and share new ideas to be considered in the supplemental budget in future budget years. Representatives from various City departments will be in attendance to answer questions the public may have about City operations.

Feedback from residents on their priorities helps inform City planning and creates a stronger future for Kamloops.

Any residents interested in a sneak peak at the budget are welcome to watch the Committee of the Whole meeting tomorrow at 9:00 am when Corporate Services Director Kathy Humphrey will be presenting the provisional budget to Council members for the first time.

For more background, dates, key documents, and infographics, visit LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/Budget2022.

On October 5, 2021, Kathy Humphrey, the City's Corporate Services Director, presented the 2022 Budget Utility Rates to the Committee of the Whole. The utility bylaws, which will be presented to council for approval, will include a 2.5% Sanitary Sewer rate increase and a 0% water rate increase. In May 2021, Council approved updates and changes to the Solid Waste Bylaw that included an increase in the 2022 fees charged to support the operation of the utility. The increases were weighted to encourage use of smaller containers. Find the full report in the Document Library.

As we look ahead to a challenging budgeting season, the City of Kamloops invites residents to learn about the process and weigh in with their questions. A great place to start is to review our basic city budget video series! Subscribe to get notifications about other ways to engage, including attending in-person budget consultations in November.