MONCTON, NB – The City of Moncton knew cuts were coming from the province and now it knows by how much.

Moncton’s unconditional grant from the province will drop by 824,000 next year, double that amount in 2014 and triple in 2015.

City Manager Jacques Dube says they are going over the books with a fine tooth comb to present a balanced budget.

“Just about every year, the tax base is growing.  There’s new construction, properties are becoming valued at a higher level every year.  This year, we’ve had a 5.35 percent increase in our tax base, which means new revenue,” notes Dube.

Dube adds the new provincial grant model will actually allow the city to plan over the long term with greater certainty and predictability.

Under the old funding model, Dube says the city never knew exactly what it was getting.