New Taipei City is getting more money from the central government next year, but it still ends up last per person among Taiwan's six major cities — bad news for local residents and services.

• Next year's tax allocation gives New Taipei an extra NT$10.6 billion, the biggest raise of the six cities.
• Spread over 4 million residents — the most in Taiwan — that works out to the lowest amount per person of any big city.
• KMT mayoral candidate Li Si-chuan says the gain is partly cancelled out because regular and project grants get cut back at the same time.
• School electricity bills are one example: central funding is gone, so the city has to cover nearly 400,000 students at 338 schools out of its own budget.
• Li is pushing lawmakers from both parties to speak up for New Taipei, calling it a fairness issue rather than a party fight.

Outlook: Expect the fight over how the money is split to become a running theme in New Taipei's mayoral race.