A new report into the future of policing services in greater Moncton is not smoothing over any of the historical tensions held by local politicians.

A report commissioned by Moncton and released on Thursday suggests the southeastern New Brunswick city stick with the Codiac RCMP, the regional service that has policed Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe since 1998.

Moncton politicians have long complained that they pay more than their fair share for the regional policing scheme.

The report was designed to recommend to city council the best policing options for its money. Its preferred option was to keep the status quo.

The consultants said the city could also consider re-establishing a municipal force or setting up a stand-alone Moncton RCMP detachment instead of a regional service.

'Moncton can certainly come up with a police force that is as good as what we have now and save the citizens money. I think that Dieppe is the one that has the problem.'— Moncton Coun. Brian Hicks

Moncton is under the gun as it has just two weeks to choose an option because if it wants to stick with the RCMP, negotiations must begin by the end of the month.

Moncton Coun. Brian Hicks said there is no way he can support the status quo.

"I certainly would not support the status quo. I'd support a stand-alone RCMP [in Moncton]. I would support a stand-alone municipal police force," he said.

What Hicks said really bothers him with the current policing arrangement is the cost-sharing split between Moncton and its two neighbouring communities of Riverview and Dieppe.

Moncton makes up 66 per cent of the population served by the Codiac RCMP but the city pays more than 75 per cent of the service's costs.

Riverview Mayor Clarence Sweetland said if Moncton sticks with the regional RCMP, his town isn't paying one cent more.

"Riverview is a bedroom community and if you look at this in the terms of service, in other words where the RCMP calls take place, where the business is done, you'll find not a lot of it is in Riverview," Sweetland said.

"Most of it is in the other communities. So therefore, if you look at it in terms of user pay, again we'd be paying at least our fair share, maybe more."

Dieppe silent on funding

Dieppe Mayor Jean LeBlanc will not say whether his city is willing to pay more for policing services. (CBC)Hicks said Riverview isn't the problem when it comes down to whether communities are paying enough for police service.

"I think Riverview has paid its fair share, I think they could probably — this is my personal opinion — come up with a force that would save them money," Hicks said.

"Moncton can certainly come up with a police force that is as good as what we have now and save the citizens money. I think that Dieppe is the one that has the problem."

Dieppe Mayor Jean LeBlanc would not say whether his city would be willing to ante up more money to keep the Codiac RCMP.

"If there's less criminality in a certain area, I don't think we have a casino in Dieppe," LeBlanc said.

"So, all these things have to be taken into consideration when you look at a formula."