Kamloops city staff want to hear from you before it presents the final budget package to council on February 25.

A week from today, on February 20, the public are invited to provide their two cents on the 2020 municipal budget as well as look ahead to future years.

Finance Director Kathy Humphrey says this year’s provisional budget indicates a 2.76 per cent tax increase, which equals to about $61 more to the average household.

“On February 20 if people either want to come to the public budget meeting and talk to us about the items that have been presented or to present new items that we can work into future budgets, they’re welcome,” she said.

“The alternative is if you can’t come to the public meeting, the budget tab on the Lets Talk page is active and you can add comments in there which will be presented to council as part of the whole package.”

Humphrey said the items with significant increased costs in 2020 include the RCMP contract, staff and wage contracts, the increasing cost of services in general, and the demand for additional services and programs, and for social and environmental responsibility.

The budget input session begins next Thursday evening at 7 p.m. in the Valley First Lounge at Sandman Centre.

The 2020 budget – including the supplemental items – will be discussed and finalized on February 25, and tax rates will be approved and set in April.