It has been revealed that the May 3 budget will include a cut to the company tax rate, a tax break to those earning more than $80,000 and small business incentives.

But it was reports the government was to rip out up to $1.2 billion more from public service departmental budgets that led to calls for the government to "respect" ACT workers.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr criticised inconsistencies between the federal government's "jobs and growth" budget rhetoric and ongoing cuts to the public service.

"I would again implore [Prime Minister Malcolm] Turnbull to honour the commitment made by the previous prime minister to stop the cuts to Canberra. We all know Liberals sack Canberrans, but it has to stop. Canberrans are Australians, too, and they deserve respect and a fair go from the Commonwealth."

Opposition leader Jeremy Hanson called for "recognition and respect" for the national capital, while welcoming the proposed company tax cut.

"We want to see a budget that drives jobs growth for Canberra, stability in the public service and strength for business," he said.

The Canberra Business Chamber, too, got behind the proposed company tax cut, and was confident the budget would be supportive of the private sector.

But confidence faltered on the question of whether or not the budget would support the public sector. The chamber said there would be disappointment in the business community if there were further cuts to the public service and national institutions.

"The chamber has always argued the funding levels of our national institutions must be preserved to ensure the quality of visitor experiences and enable the institutions to continue to build their collections," the chamber said. "These institutions and the associated tourism are important to the ACT economy.

"We hope [Tuesday's] federal budget shows the Commonwealth government views the ACT region as a vibrant and important jurisdiction and not only as the seat of Parliament."

On the infrastructure front, as Victoria and NSW were set to receive big contributions to rail projects, the chamber called again for a $250 million investment in a national convention and meeting centre in the capital.

Mr Hanson said his party would argue for and welcome federal infrastructure funding for the ACT, save for that directed to light rail, which "was not the right project for Canberra".

And Mr Barr said health and education were the ACT government's priorities for federal budget focus, over proposed company tax cuts.

"The Abbott government ripped billions of dollars out of our hospitals and schools, and Mr Turnbull's weak efforts to address these funding shortfalls will ultimately fail Canberrans that rely on these vital services," he said.

"This is something every single state and territory leader is imploring the federal government to urgently address, rather than giving company tax cuts to multinationals who, due to the lack of effort by the Commonwealth, don't pay their fair share of tax anyway."