Cheshire candidates at a Chamber of Commerce forum on Monday debated how to close a reported multi‑million dollar budget gap and which capital projects should be put before voters, with disagreement over priorities from open‑space purchases to school safety upgrades.

The candidates framed the contest around taxes and spending. Former Council Chair Peter Talbot told the audience the town began the current fiscal year “in a $15,000,000 hole” because of reduced federal and state revenues and new debt service, and said the budget that passed was a “compromise between austerity and eliminating critical services.”

That shortfall and a 12.6% tax increase over two years were recurring themes. Several candidates said protecting existing services while limiting additional tax pressure must guide council decisions; others said some capital work cannot be deferred. Incumbent town councilor Fiona Pearson, a sociology professor who serves on the council, described the budget process as one grounded in department‑level review: “We started off with the experts in the room,” she said, adding staff and department heads had already pared requests to help close the gap.

Why it matters: Voters will decide a bundle of capital items in a referendum ballot that includes funding for open‑space acquisition, replacement of the high‑school turf field, school sprinkler and safety work, and a fire truck. Candidates urged residents to weigh both safety needs and long‑term fiscal impacts.

Positions and specifics
- Open space: Multiple candidates, including Pearson and several district representatives, said acquiring and preserving open land is a top priority; others expressed concern about giving the council broad, open‑ended authority to spend a $1.5 million fund without additional community input. A proposal discussed in the forum was described variously as $1.5 million and as an earlier $2 million figure that had been debated during budget discussions.
- School safety and turf: Several candidates called the high‑school sprinkler and alarm work and replacement of the synthetic turf a pressing safety priority. Candidates described the turf as past its expected service life and said failing to replace it could create safety and liability risks for school athletics and community use.
- Roads and infrastructure: Other candidates flagged pavement maintenance and traffic improvements as priorities that receive less public attention than parks or school projects but are central to residents’ daily experience.

Candidates’ tone and outreach
Candidates repeatedly urged turnout for early and election‑day voting and encouraged voters to review referendum questions. Several said the council should present clearer cost estimates for ballot items so taxpayers understand the per‑household impact before voting.

Ending
The forum made clear the municipal election will hinge on competing assessments of fiscal risk: some candidates argued the town should prioritize near‑term safety and infrastructure needs even if that raises spending, while others pressed for tighter cost controls and more frequent public input before using town funds for land acquisition or new projects. Voters will decide which approach to pursue in early voting and on Nov. 4.