By Andrea Klassen - Kamloops This Week Published: November 07, 2012 12:00 PM

As Kamloops city staff look to cut costs with bulk discounts, city councillors are eyeing partnerships with Kelowna and other nearby communities to get even better deals on products ranging from road salt to toilet paper. At a budget workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 6, city CAO David Trawin presented a number of cost-saving measures being rolled into the 2013 budget, from prioritizing energy-saving projects to reviewing open management positions within the city to determine if they need to be filled. Trawin estimates changes to how the city buys products could save just under $2 million a year, once they are fully implemented. In 2012, for instance, the city managed to reduce its road salt budget by $20,000 by buying it through a multi-year tender, rather than on an as-needed on an annual basis. He noted other products offer even larger savings. Coun. Nancy Bepple suggested the city look at whether larger purchases, made with nearby municipalities or the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, could bring down costs even more, while Coun. Marg Spina suggested staff work with School District 73. “Maybe this is the time when we can start thinking outside of the box and say what else, who else, however else,” she said.