The mayor of Kamloops has not been paying his taxes, and now his house could be auctioned off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson’s Westmount home is now on the annual tax sale list, owing Kamloops city hall more than $17,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dozens of properties are included on the list every year, only added when the owner is three years behind on property taxes. Outstanding amounts range from $1,000 to more than $300,000, but only one is owned by the city’s mayor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hamer-Jackson lives in the house with his wife, but it has been up for sale for more than five months<\/a>, priced at $1.9 million. BC Assessment values the property at $917,000 and the city website estimates the owner would’ve been charge $4,264 in municipal taxes this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like his downtown business property, it could be taken away before he is able to sell it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Banks moved to foreclose on Hamer-Jackson’s West Victoria Street car lot and have since given him four months<\/a> to pay off more than $400,000 in debt before seizing the property<\/a>. Though court documents mentioned outstanding taxes on the business property, it isn’t on the 2026 auction list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s currently listed for sale at $3.6 million after a reduction or two over the past several months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many properties have their accounts settled before bidders can take possession. Owners have a year to pay outstanding tax bills and the interest accrued. If they repay this month, they’ll be removed from the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hamer-Jackson did not respond when reached for comment on his outstanding tax bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kamloops city council also adopted a new bylaw just this summer, allowing the city to collect unpaid taxes and fees from elected officials through their salaries<\/a>. It’s not clear whether it has been used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The annual tax sale takes place on Sept. 28.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Being mayor hasn’t exactly helped Hamer-Jackson’s financial situation. His legal debts from his political affairs are mounting while his paycheques are a small fraction of his actual salary after clawbacks for bad behaviour.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n