Price tag on proposed Kamloops police station rises to $170M

The estimated construction bill for a new Kamloops police station has increased by $20 million as taxpayers await their chance to weigh in on whether or not they want to shoulder the cost.

According to a city staff report, the cost is now estimated at $169.8 million to replace the current building that was designed for fewer than half the employees who work there.

The new RCMP detachment will be funded through a multi-million dollar loan as long as residents give their blessing, but the planned counter petition process was delayed due to the ongoing Canada Post strike. So far, there’s no indication the city will borrow more than the $150 million currently in the plans.

There are no details about the updated price in the staff report.

Council will debate on Tuesday, Oct. 21, whether or not to expand what projects can be funded through development cost charges. With the new police station considered as one of several items that could find extra funding through development costs, the report attached the newly estimated cost.

It’s the single-most expensive project among multiple upcoming civic projects, both approved and proposed.

With taxpayers poised to consider $188 million in new debt through counter-petitions, also known as an alternative approval process, a combined total $463 million in loans could be on the books when combined with the blessing voters gave to last year’s arts centre and arena requests.

While the mayor and some councillors have expressed some doubt over whether the new police station plan is appropriate, there is almost no disagreement among them that the project should go through.

It’s also the one project that voters have very little say over.

That’s because the overdue project could be foisted on Kamloops if city hall doesn’t see a plan through in time. Due to conditions in municipal police contracting, RCMP could have a new police station built and leave the bill with city hall once it’s done.

Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson remains the lone voice who has expressed doubt over the planned location. But the project has been in a slow planning stage for years and it seems unlikely he will win any support to find a new property.

Meanwhile, Coun. Katie Neustaeter has expressed concern over the high price tag and Coun. Kelly Hall questioned whether the plans should be adjusted as the federal government considers massive changes to RCMP and hints at pulling municipal police contracting.