While some in Norwich may be aghast at the deep budget cuts proposed by the Republican-controlled City Council, this should not come as a shock. In 2015, the Republicans ran on a platform of cutting spending and taxes. And this is what fiscal austerity can look like – ugly.

On Monday, the Republicans, in 5-2 control of the council, voted in unison to adopt a preliminary $123.3 million budget, a 5 percent cut from the budget prepared by City Manager John Salomone, which was a relatively frugal budget to begin with. If it were to gain final adoption in this form, and depending on what happens with state aid, it could mean a sizable tax cut.

But it would also inflict a lot of pain, arguably doing so much damage to city services and public schools that it detracts from the quality of life and hurts property values.

The cuts would eliminate 10 city positions and freeze the school budget at its current $75 million, a $3.2 million reduction from what the city manager recommended and $4.3 million less than the Board of Education said it needed to operate the schools. A substantial reduction in teachers, programs and larger class sizes would result if a cut that size stands.

Among the changes required on the city side of the budget would be elimination of two police officer positions, a Human Services case manager, a driver for Rose City Senior Center, a Public Works Department engineer, the recycling coordinator and two clerks. Spaulding Pond would likely not open to swimming this summer.

Things may change. A public hearing on the preliminary proposed budget will be held at 7 p.m. May 8 in Council Chambers at City Hall. The public could convince Republicans to restore some funding. But Council President Pro Tempore Peter Nystrom is running for mayor and he wants to campaign, along with fellow Republican council candidates, on having kept their promises to trim taxes and spending.

It could set up quite the debate in the 2017 city election. Will voters have regrets about the reality of deep budget cuts? Council Alderman H. Tucker Braddock, seeking the Democratic nomination to run for mayor, will certainly make the case that cuts are going too deep.

Some elections present clear choices. Norwich may be on the eve of one. But first, it has to get through the budget.