Looted province and growth rates.
*If you cant seem to get a negative growth number on a province (thus cant get it to drop below 5,000) wait until the rebels have looted the province. Looted provinces are additional -5 growth. This may take a few times if you are +3 stab and no tax collector. If the rebels dont 'loot' just retake the province and let another rebellion happen. In case you did not know. A province is looted when it has those little flames near the fort. All looting does is drop growth -5%.

ErrantOne
*If you cant seem to get a negative growth number on a province (thus cant get it to drop below 5,000) wait until the rebels have looted the province. Looted provinces are additional -5 growth. This may take a few times if you are +3 stab and no tax collector. If the rebels dont 'loot' just retake the province and let another rebellion happen. In case you did not know. A province is looted when it has those little flames near the fort. All looting does is drop growth -5%.
ErrantOne