The proposed policing budget for 2026 equates to a 1.4 per cent tax increase for Salmon Arm residents.
As is done annually, city council was asked at its June 23 meeting to approve, in principle, the Salmon Arm RCMP budget for the coming year. The April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 budget before council was $6,348,294, of which the city is responsible for 90 per cent. Council was also asked to approve in principle a $207,300 budget for detachment guards and matrons.
In a report to council, staff said there will be annual increases to policing costs over the next five years. For the 2026/27 budget, the increase amounts to $349,500 (5.6 per cent), with an additional $111,200 going to wages, $19,800 to pensions, $51,200 to administration, $53,700 to "indirect costs" such as body cameras, and $114,900 to equipment and machinery including tasers, an "extended range impact weapon and pistol modernization."
Furthermore, RCMP vehicle replacement estimates have increased by $84,000, to a total of $234,000. The city allocates funding annually towards a Police Vehicle Replacement Reserve and budgets for replacements separately under capital expenditures.
Without a letter of approval from council, services to the community could be reduced.
Coun. Kevin Flynn noted protective services are the "single biggest line item" in city budgets, and the "biggest piece of that is RCMP."
"We need them, they’re doing a great job for us and I support this, as I always do, begrudgingly," said Flynn, "Because the biggest issue is how little true control we have over any of these items. We do pick the number of officers and I’m happy to report we’re getting close to having a full complement, at least for our municipal force."
However, Flynn hoped at September's Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, council would again voice its interest in increasing the number of officers currently tasked with rural policing.
"We keep asking the province for some support there because there’s no question that our staff that we pay for end up helping with rural policing based on the current numbers," noted Flynn.
Council voted unanimously in support of submitting the requested letter of approval.
