FREDERICTON -- The New Brunswick government will cut the size of management in the civil service by 30 per cent when it delivers a new provincial budget Tuesday, according to a government source.

The source says senior management cuts will take effect this winter, while middle management reductions will be phased in over several years.

The source, who shared the information with The Canadian Press on condition of anonymity, says reorganization of the civil service, including other job cuts, is expected to save $46 million.

There are currently over 600 management positions within the New Brunswick civil service. They will be reduced by 30 per cent -- that's at least 180 positions.

Rightsizing senior management in the civil service was one of the six key recommendations that came out of the government's year-long strategic program review.

Other options include increasing the HST to 15 per cent from its current 13 per cent, increasing corporate taxes, and implementing highway tolls.

The government is looking for new revenue and cost-cutting measures in an effort to address a structural deficit of about $600 million.

Odette Robichaud, vice president of CUPE New Brunswick, said the union is concerned services to the public will suffer and they oppose cuts to the civil service.

"It's not going to be an easy one, that's my feeling," Robichaud said when reached for comment Sunday.

She said while the government has announced it will protect health and education in Tuesday's budget, she worries employees could be affected.

"They could be looking at privatizing the custodial services which are the employees who look after the maintenance and the services in the schools. Also the bus drivers. We don't know," she said.

"We are afraid."

CUPE New Brunswick has roughly 28,000 members in the provincial public service.

Last week, Finance Minister Roger Melanson said the government had already saved $115 million through initiatives such as cutting the pay of the premier and cabinet, merging departments and eliminating waste.

During his state-of-the-province speech last week, Premier Brian Gallant said spending and revenue measures will balance out 50/50 over his government's first two budgets.

New Brunswick has an aging population and has seen an exodus of young people leaving the province to find work.

The provincial debt is roughly $12.4 billion.