Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas/City of Kelowna

By Vernon Matters Staff

2026 budget

The cost of addressing Kelowna’s rapid growth, and the cost not to: Mayor

Dec 8, 2025 | 4:30 PM

The mayor of Kelowna says waiting to address important infrastructure projects would cost taxpayers more in the long run.

Speaking to the city’s first ever plus-$1 billion budget, submitted to council last week, Tom Dyas said the ten-figure dollar amount reflects and manages the growth of a city that will add 50,000 people over the next two decades.

Writing in his monthly update column, Dyas said there are real costs to a community in having shrinking services, overcrowded facilities, increasing congestion, and the massive inflationary costs associated with delaying projects.

Dyas said while the proposed 4.37 per cent tax increase is one of the lowest in B.C., council and the community must continue building the infrastructure, amenities, and services that residents depend upon.

For the first time in decades, city council has made it a priority to build new major roads including the KLO Road bridge replacement, Hollywood Road North upgrades, and expanding Burtch and Glenmore Roads, and Clement Avenue. There are also massive investments in recreation like the Parkinson Recreation Centre, and new community centres in Glenmore, Mission, and Rutland, along with improved sports fields in Rutland.

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The city is expected to grow from 170,000 to around 220,000 in the next two decades and Dyas said there would be real costs to the community by waiting or not providing these services at all.

“When it comes to major projects, some may ask about the costs,” Dyas wrote.”But the real cost comes from waiting or not providing these services at all. The cost of a community having shrinking services, overcrowded facilities, increasing congestion, and the massive inflationary costs associated with delaying projects. We have seen these impacts in our community before. This term, council has strengthened the budget process designed to ensure accountability, transparency, and responsible financial management.”