Kamloops meetings: $160M police building borrowing, utility rate hikes on the table
Kamloops council committees have several major financial items on recent agendas, including a proposed $160 million borrowing amendment for the Kamloops Police Services Building and utility rate increases for 2027. All three meetings listed below were agenda-only at the time of this report — minutes have not yet been published, so the items reflect what was scheduled for discussion or recommendation, not confirmed outcomes.
Committee of the Whole — July 28, 2026
The Committee of the Whole agenda included the largest financial items of the week:
- A recommendation to amend the Police Services Building Loan Authorization Bylaw to borrow $160 million.
- Two options for elector approval of the police building borrowing: an alternative approval process in Q1 2027, or a referendum concurrent with the 2026 general local election.
- A proposed 10% increase in waterworks fees for 2027, via a Fees and Charges Bylaw amendment.
- A proposed 3% increase in sanitary sewer fees for 2027, via a Fees and Charges Bylaw amendment.
- Proposed changes to the Sanitary Sewer Bylaw and Waterworks Bylaw to start base charges at the water meter permit stage instead of at installation.
- An update on the Council Strategic Plan, with no action required.
Because minutes are not yet published, it is not confirmed which of these items the committee advanced or how members voted.
Build Kamloops Select Committee — July 21, 2026
The Build Kamloops Select Committee agenda centered on the $40 million philanthropic campaign tied to the Kamloops Centre for the Arts and the Kamloops Arena Multiplex. Scheduled items included:
- Adopting minutes from the April 13, 2026 meeting.
- A recommendation to hire a dedicated Campaign Manager to lead the $40 million Build Kamloops fundraising campaign.
- Discussion of revisions to a draft Memorandum of Understanding with the Kamloops Centre for the Arts Society, including adding a diversity, equity, and inclusion commitment.
- A financial update on the Kamloops Arena Multiplex project.
- Approval of a closed-committee meeting for confidential negotiations under Community Charter Section 90.
The Campaign Manager recommendation, if advanced, would affect how the city pursues private fundraising for two major proposed facilities. The MOU discussion signals ongoing negotiations with the Kamloops Centre for the Arts Society.
Safety and Security Select Committee — July 27, 2026
The Safety and Security Select Committee agenda focused on Q2 2026 community safety data:
- Kamloops Interagency Supports Table Q2 2026 update.
- Graffiti update.
- Protective Services Corridor Q2 2026 statistics.
- Adoption of April 27, 2026 meeting minutes.
These items are informational reports; no dollar figures or policy changes were listed on the agenda.
What this means for residents
The police building borrowing and the utility rate increases are the items most likely to affect household costs and public debt. If the 10% waterworks fee increase and 3% sanitary sewer fee increase are ultimately adopted by council, they would take effect in 2027. The police building borrowing, if advanced, would require elector approval — either through an alternative approval process or a referendum — before the city can proceed.
Coming up
No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents should watch for published minutes from the three meetings above to confirm what was decided, and for future council agendas that may formalize the utility rate increases and police building borrowing.