Internal strife on Kamloops council over $211M arts centre groundbreaking

Kamloops city councillors are split over an event celebrating construction of an upcoming downtown arts centre amid discussions of a possible 10 per cent tax hike.

It’s not the price tag of the $211 million performing arts centre that sparked concern. Instead, the appearance of a groundbreaking ceremony shortly after learning of the projected tax increase is “not the best time,” according to internal emails.

That was what Coun. Stephen Karpuk said to city council on Monday morning, Nov. 24. He said his discomfort led him to decide not to attend the event.

Sharing that concern were councillors Bill Sarai and Katie Neustaeter.

“I also have some concerns on the mix messaging (sic) we are sending out,” Sarai said in an email that morning.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place Wednesday, Nov. 26, to mark construction of the already over-budget arts centre, which was projected to cost roughly $160 million.

Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson has voiced a desire to pause the construction and a local city hall watchdog group started an online petition with the same goal.

It’s unlikely any of those efforts will be successful. Even the three councillors with misgivings about timing the ceremony haven’t flipped on their support for the long-awaited project.

Speaking with iNFOnews.ca, Karpuk said his issue was about “communication.”

“My concern, and I’m not alone, was that there’s still some misinformation about the costing. So, I think if there was more clarity, that might have been helpful,” he said. “There’s probably no absolutely perfect time, but you still need to get it done because this project is shovel-ready.”

He said there is a public perception that major tax hikes are expected because of the performing arts centre, but it is actually “fully funded.” Similarly, a city news release this week said it won’t lead to any tax increases.

He did concede, however, that it will require millions from city hall reserves, which will eventually have to be refilled, likely with future tax increases. Other city smaller city projects will also be postponed to make up for the costs.

Karpuk, who’s also a practising chiropractor, added that he didn’t want to attend the event because it was too short notice for his out-of-town patients with appointments.

Neustaeter and Sarai were not immediately available to respond to a request for comment.

“I understand councillors getting a little nervous because, well, it’s silly season,” Coun. Dale Bass said, referring to the approaching municipal election. “I have colleagues who are thinking ahead to (the election) next October, I’m sure. I’m not, but there’s some positioning and headline-seeking going.”

Bass said council have asked city staff to find ways to reduce the 10.8% tax hike currently on the table, expecting a drop to around 6% with some service cuts. She didn’t share in the others’ concern about the event.

“Everyone’s going to be watching this and this is when we say what our communications department put together… which is that this is not impacting the tax rate,” she said. “All the money is allocated. It’s not coming from taxes.”