Norwich — The City Council on Monday had hoped to hear comments, concerns and ideas from residents about the proposed $131.9 million combined city and school budget during the second remote access budget public hearing.

But what they heard most was Mayor Peter Nystrom reading the instructions for the public to call in and speak on the proposed budget. Few residents called during the half-hour hearing.

The most contentious issue facing the council will be setting a final bottom-line total for the school budget. Aldermen have yet to discuss possible alterations to City Manager John Salomone’s recommended a $1.9 million, 2.4% school budget increase to $83 million. This year’s $81.03 million school budget is expected to end with a $1.1 million deficit.

School Superintendent Kristen Stringfellow told a joint council-school board committee last week that her initial proposed budget of $88.4 million is what the school district would need to meet educational needs and state and federal mandates and break even without relying on any deficit spending from the city. The Board of Education in March realized that 9.1% increase would be unreasonable and approved an $85.5 million total budget, a 5.5% increase that still would need supplemental deficit funding from the city.

Alderman Joseph DeLucia, chairman of an ad-hoc joint committee of aldermen and school board members, got no response from his committee members last week when he asked for recommendations from the group on the school budget gap. DeLucia recommended holding off on making a recommendation until the City Council heard from the public during Monday’s hearing.

The Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in a remote access meeting to discuss the budget as well.

School Board Chairwoman Heather Romanski called and “respectfully” requested the council increase Salomone’s proposed 2.4% increase for the school budget but did not discuss specifics.

Former Alderwoman Joanne Philbrick called to say the council should not increase any part of the budget, given the current COVID-19 emergency.

“The Board of Education budget is insane,” Philbrick said. “That’s the only way to describe it.”

She also said many elderly residents could not participate in Monday’s hearing because of lack of technology access. The hearing was broadcast on Comcast Cable government channel and aired live on the city’s website. The broadcast showed call-in instructions on the screen.

Resident John Blackburn also objected to the proposed increase in the school budget. Blackburn said with the schools closed under the COVID-19 emergency, Blackburn said the school system should be returning money to the city rather than running a deficit.

“I know they’re looking for a lot of money, but we can’t afford it,” Blackburn said.

The only other call was from resident Brian Kobylarz, who questioned the $25,000 in the Mayor/City Council budget for marketing the city. Kobylarz said the funding had been used in the past for the several international street festivals, but he questioned whether it should be used for something else, given that downtown festivals might not be possible under COVID-19 conditions.

c.bessette@theday.com