Norwich – City Council Republicans are proposing a page-long list of budget cuts, including reducing school spending by another $740,000, cutting Otis Library's budget by $130,000, eliminating a city fire battalion chief and reducing the Human Services Department to one caseworker.

The proposed cuts are the result of a series of closed-door weekend Republican caucus meetings held since City Manager John Salomone presented his budget April 4.

Republicans remain divided on the cuts, and the council's two Democrats criticized the moves as short-sighted and irresponsible – especially the school budget cut.

The council will vote on a preliminary budget Monday at its 7:30 p.m. meeting. A second public hearing will be held May 9.

Republicans won a 5-2 council majority in November, promising no new taxes. Salomone's combined city and school budget called for a 0.73-mill tax increase. The savings from new proposed cuts total 0.87 mills for a tax decrease of 0.14 mills.

The Board of Education had requested a 6 percent, $4.6 million increase, with a $5 million increase in just two areas – $3 million for special education and high school tuition and $2 million for health coverage. Salomone proposed a 2 percent school budget increase to $75.48 million. The new cut would bring the total down to $74.7 million, a 1 percent increase.

“It's impossible, quite frankly,” School Superintendent Abby Dolliver said. “We don't even know if we can reach the $3 million (cut proposed by Salomone).”

Republican Alderwoman Joanne Philbrick proposed the new school budget cut and placed it in the resolution on Monday's agenda. Republican aldermen Peter Nystrom, Jerry Martin and Stacy Gould all said they do not support Philbrick's cut.

“My feeling was a 1 percent,” Philbrick said. “I'm only one person. I do not know if other people will be in agreement with this.”

Gould, who attended school board budget meetings as council liaison, said she co-sponsored the council resolution for discussion only. Philbrick, Martin and Gould said they disagree with another item on the list, eliminating a central city fire department battalion chief, saving $96,143 including benefits.

Democratic Alderman H. Tucker Braddock said the GOP proposed cuts would hurt the city's goal of attracting business. He said Norwich has obligations as a small city to fund programs residents need and new businesses want to see.

“I'm certainly going to push for the city manager's budget, and hopefully find a way to give (the school budget) a little more,” Braddock said.

The proposal to cut $130,000 from the Otis Library operating budget came one week after Otis was named a recipient of the 2016 National Medal for Museum and Library Services as one of the nation's top five libraries. But Republican aldermen cited the recent $3 million unrestricted gift Otis received in the will of former patron Michael Guty of Canterbury.

"It breaks my heart to have to do this," Martin said of the library cut. "But there has to be shared sacrifices. If I had another department that was flush with cash like that, they'd be making the same sacrifice."

Otis used much of the gift to pay off its bank mortgage. The library placed the rest in its depleted endowment fund, now at $4 million, to pay for delayed capital improvements and maintenance – including installing energy-saving lighting – Executive Director Robert Farwell said. He said the library received the gift because of its excellent service, and now would be penalized for it.

"We wouldn't tell the city, 'spend down your rainy day fund,'" Farwell said. "We have deferred maintenance we need to attend to. Why are you taking away from an organization that has shown fiscal prudence, that has done something, that provides benefit to the community, that has put Norwich on the map? The reaction is: 'Great, congratulations, take a 10 percent hit on your allocation.' I do not understand this."

Democratic Mayor Deberey Hinchey said she would oppose many of the Republican cuts, including the school budget, Human Services and library cuts.

"I think the library is one of the shining stars in the city, and to diminish its capacity is going in the wrong direction," Hinchey said.

In Salomone's budget, Norwich Human Services was slated to lose one caseworker position. The Republican cut would eliminate a second position, leaving just one caseworker for the office that sees about 2,000 Norwich unduplicated clients per year, according to figures provided by Human Services Director Lee Ann Gomes.

Four Republicans reached Thursday said they support the Human Services cut. Nystrom and Philbrick cited the numerous social services agencies in Norwich that can pick up the work load.

“I want to see how we can fare if we keep those positions unfunded,” Gould said. “What would it do to us? I would really want to see us concentrating on our seniors and our youth.”

c.bessette@theday.com