Kelowna taxpayers facing 3.8% tax increase

Kelowna city council adopted a provisional budget with a tax increase of 3.8% today, Dec. 8, following a full day of discussions.

The tax hike is down slightly from the 4.01% city staff had recommended going into the budget discussions.

At 3.8% an average household will pay around $83 more a year in property taxes.

The increase includes a new 1% annual Public Safety Levy that will fund six RCMP officers, four more firefighters and two more senior bylaw officers.

In all, more than two dozen new staff will be added to the city’s payroll, not including the six police officers.

The final budget and tax increase will be set in the spring after the value of new construction is factored in.

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