Rocky Hill Town Manager Proud Of Budget Process

While Rocky Hill Town Manager Barbara Gilbert isn't one to boast, there is no question she is proud of the budget she and the rest of the town department heads put together this year.

"While we have a small tax increase and a small increase in the mill rate when I look at the five surrounding towns I see that we have the lowest tax increase of any of them," Gilbert said.

When asked if she was proud of that fact, she fired back, "Wouldn't you be?"

Rocky Hill's taxes will go up 2.7 percent and the mill rate will go up just 0.7. 

Gilbert knows there are many factors that go into a budget and was quick to point out Berlin, for example, went through revaluation this year and Rocky Hill didn't. Next year will be a revaluation year for Rocky Hill. 

"We addressed all of the things that we felt had to be addressed but there are no new positions," Gilbert said. "We put through the sprinkler system at West Hill School, which was needed but that was the only big capital project that went through."

Gilbert said the department heads did a good job of identifying the difference between wants and needs. 

She said the biggest unknown continues to be the uncertainty of the state funding.

"It was a tough year but it's always a tough year," she said. "We just don't know what the state is going to do. We base our budget on a set of numbers but I think I would have just as much luck throwing darts at a dart board. You are almost afraid to do anything because if you go in the wrong direction you could put yourself in some big trouble."

Gilbert knew this was a good budget for a simple reason.

"I got no phone calls," she said with a chuckle. "You never get a thank you from the residents for a tax increase. When they are unhappy they call and this year I didn't get any calls. That's a good year."