Listen to this article
Estimated 1 minute
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Kelowna City Council has adopted its 2026 budget with an average property tax increase of around 4.4 per cent per household.
That works out to roughly $115 more than last year for the owner of an average single-family home, council heard.
The $1.1-billion budget is the largest in the city’s history and comes at a time when Kelowna is facing significant expansion and growth as one of Canada’s fastest-growing major municipalities.
The largest line item in the budget is for RCMP costs, which are set at a base rate by the province.
Policing accounts for nearly 30 per cent of the total budget, with new frontline officers being added.
The budget also includes funding for the creation of a permanent business liaison officer, as well as new fire and bylaw positions.
City staff say the tax increase is significantly lower than comparable municipalities, with property taxes accounting for only about 10 per cent of the overall budget with the remainder coming from user fees, reserves and other sources.
