CITY HALL – Mayor calls for audit to reduce waste, increase transparency

Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson wants an independent forensic audit done of City operations to reduce waste and increase transparency, and he’s challenging any councillors who oppose the audit to explain themselves.

The mayor introduced a notice of motion at last week’s council meeting and sent out a news release today (June 17, 2025) as a follow-up. His motion is expected to come up for debate at next week’s regular meeting.

That’s when councillors will get a chance to talk about Hamer-Jackson’s proposal, assuming one of them seconds the motion.

“We are in seriously challenging financial times,” the mayor said in his news release.

“Citizens are facing record tax increases, and they deserve to know their money is being managed with care, efficiency, and full accountability. This motion is not about assigning blame, it’s about identifying opportunities to improve how we operate, reduce waste, and restore trust in City Hall.”

He added, “If any member of Council opposes this, they should be prepared to explain why they would resist greater transparency and accountability to the very people we were elected to serve.”

Hamer-Jackson wants the audit done by “an accredited third-party organization” with no prior business relationship with the City.

He said the audit should examine such things as unjustified cost overruns, misaligned staffing levels or payroll costs, contracting practices and salary raises for City management “that are not fully transparent or justified.”

Full Text of the Notice of Motion

WHEREAS the residents of Kamloops have expressed growing concerns regarding rising property taxes, cost overruns, and a perceived lack of transparency in municipal operations;

AND WHEREAS it is the responsibility of Council to ensure that public funds are managed with integrity, efficiency, and in the best interest of taxpayers;

AND WHEREAS a full and independent forensic audit is a proven method to identify inefficiencies, systemic issues, and any potential misuse or mismanagement of public resources, and also an effective tool for ensuring maximum efficiencies for the finances of the City;

AND WHEREAS for the purpose of this motion, “inefficiencies or concerning findings” shall include, but not be limited to:

– Unjustified cost overruns or lack of cost control in capital projects;

– Duplicated efforts across departments or unclear responsibilities leading to resource waste;

– Staffing levels or payroll costs not aligned with actual service delivery requirements;

– Contracting practices that lack competitive fairness or transparency;

– Delayed asset maintenance or mismanagement of infrastructure replacement cycles;

– Budgeting or reporting practices that obscure the true financial health of the City;

– Decisions or expenditures that do not reflect value-for-money for taxpayers;

– Salary raises for City management that are not fully transparent at the time they occur or are not accompanied by clear justification or performance rationale;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council direct staff to initiate a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a third-party forensic audit of all City of Kamloops departments and management practices;

AND THAT the scope of the audit include, but not be limited to:

– Financial controls and accounting practices;

– Procurement and contracting procedures;

– Staffing and payroll practices;

– Hiring practices within City Hall;

– Departmental budgeting and project delivery;

– Evaluation of staffing levels across departments to ensure alignment with actual service delivery requirements and community needs;

– Assessment of asset management practices to ensure they meet or exceed recognized industry standards for maintenance, renewal, and long-term infrastructure planning;

– Overall operational efficiency and governance practices;

AND THAT this audit process be implemented at the earliest possible convenience;

AND THAT any third-party organization considered for this work must:

a) Be fully accredited and qualified to conduct forensic audits of this nature; and

b) Have no prior or existing contracts or business relationships with the City of Kamloops to ensure full independence and impartiality;

AND FURTHER THAT while we acknowledge that undertaking such a comprehensive audit will come at a financial cost to the corporation, we believe the long-term benefits will strengthen the organization, reinforce fiscal responsibility, and help restore and retain the full trust of the community;

AND THAT I see no reason why any member of this Council would hesitate to support this motion, as I believe each of you shares the same commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance;

AND THAT, as outlined in the Community Charter, we are accountable to the public — our employers — and they deserve full confidence in how decisions are made and how their tax dollars are managed within these walls.

Respectfully submitted,

Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson