Expect the race for the next Norwich mayor to hang heavy over the City Council when it begins work on the budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

Republican Peter Nystrom wants to win back the mayoral seat he lost by 218 votes to Mayor Deberey Hinchey in 2013. Nystrom began his comeback in 2015 by leading a Republican council ticket that beat the odds, grabbing 5-2 control of the council in a city normally dominated by the Democratic Party.

Republicans won with a promise to cut taxes and spending. In the end, however, the council approved a budget with a slight tax increase to 41.2 mills. In the City Consolidated District, consisting of the downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, property owners face an additional 7.84 mills in taxes to pay for the city’s only full-time, paid fire service.

Nystrom, the council president, knows his credibility is on the line. He will push his Republican majority hard to find a way to cut taxes and, if successful, run on the Republicans having kept their promise. It won’t be easy, with pressure across the board from city services to education to maintain staffing, which usually means higher spending.

The wildcard is state funding, but Nystrom isn’t counting on the increased state aid for cities pushed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, concluding it won’t get legislative support.

With Hinchey opting not to seek re-election, Nystrom’s likely Democratic opponent will be fellow council Alderman H. Tucker Braddock. When I talked to Braddock last week, he said he was putting together a campaign organization and would next focus on gaining the backing of the Democratic Town Committee.

While there is time for challengers to emerge in both parties, I expect this to end up a Nystrom versus Braddock contest.

A businessman and former owner of the A.P. Savage Supply Co. hardware store in Greeneville (the subsequent owner announced its closing last year), Braddock said to get Norwich in better fiscal health he would focus on economic growth and expanding the tax base.

Expect an issue that received much attention in 2013 to resurface again. What should be the working expectations for the mayor of Norwich?

In Norwich, the voters directly elect the mayor, but the position carries no executive authority. The charter leaves the job of running the city to a city manager, hired by and answerable to the council. The mayor is a member of the council. While setting the agendas and issuing an annual State of the City Address, the mayor has only one vote and no veto.

According to the charter the “mayor shall have primary responsibility for economic development and be the catalyst … for the economic development of the city.”

It pays $45,000 annually, suggesting a part-time job.

In unseating Nystrom in 2013, Hinchey pledged to be a full-time mayor despite the part-time pay. Nystrom, who works full-time for UPS, could not match that promise.

Hinchey said given the number of meetings she attends, many during the day, and the amount of time spent meeting with businesspeople, both those established in the city and those interested in relocating to Norwich, she remains convinced the job deserves full-time attention and someone available during business hours.

Braddock said he too would devote full-time attention to the position.

“What did full-time get us?” asks Nystrom. “Higher taxes, more government, controversy. And I don’t see any great economic growth.”

He then returned to what he characterized as “the one issue that will take priority over all others: spending and taxes.”

I think he’s right.

Paul Choiniere is the editorial page editor.