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  • Tax Increases Likely Returning to Rocky Hill: The Hidden Cost of the “Ames” Deal

    Tax Increases Likely Returning to Rocky Hill: The Hidden Cost of the “Ames” Deal

    Residents face rising taxes and shrinking benefits

    As town budget season approaches, Rocky Hill residents prepare for yet another property tax increase – the sixth consecutive year for most homeowners. Many are questioning why their tax bills keep climbing while town services remain stagnant or face cuts. According to a recent presentation by the Tax Assessor at the February 18th Town Council meeting, Rocky Hill actually saw a 0.59% drop in total real estate assessed values and an overall grand list decrease of 1.26% year-over-year. This declining tax base, combined with unavoidable increases in town expenses, means one thing: residents will pay more, potentially while receiving less.

    Town departments have reportedly received direction from leadership to maintain zero budget increases, forcing them to cut services or positions to accommodate contractually obligated wage increases. Even as services and positions are squeezed, the tax burden increases:  the Board of Education’s 4.9% budget increase – driven entirely by essential salary and maintenance needs with no new teachers or programs – will further burden taxpayers.

    At risk is the decline of town services and personnel, including:

    • Fewer staff to maintain our treasured institutions; for example, the library’s budget is lower now than in 2018 and hasn’t filled vacant positions, yet we are asking our librarians to do more with fewer employees.
    • A reduction in overtime payments for public works the last two years has resulted in delayed leaf pickup, frustrating homeowners, and clogging storm drains. 
    • A badly deteriorated public pool, with costly repairs on the horizon. 

    Republican tax abatements favor developers over residents

    While residents face mounting tax pressures, the Republican-majority on the Town Council has made decisions that worsen the situation. The most glaring example is the infamous Ames/Kelson Row tax abatement – what many have called a “sweetheart deal” that benefits developers at taxpayers’ expense.

    The multi-million dollar redevelopment of the former Ames Department Store headquarters on Main Street should have significantly boosted Rocky Hill’s tax revenues. Instead, the Republican-majority on the Town Council unanimously approved (while Democrats unanimously opposed) a tax abatement that locks in the developer’s annual tax payment at just $80,000 for years, with full assessed value taxation not beginning until 2034!

    To put this in perspective: Rocky Hill’s newest apartment complexes (Montage and Alterra) are assessed at approximately $153,125 per unit, generating significant tax revenue. If Kelson Row’s 225 luxury apartments were taxed at comparable rates, they would contribute over $34 million to our grand list and over  $1 million annually in tax revenue when fully completed.

    Even with just the 85 leased and near-completion apartments, Kelson Row would be contributing at least $13 million to our grand list and approximately $379,666 in annual tax revenue – mostly offsetting this year’s real estate assessment decline.

    A chart showing the potential loss of funding from Kelson Row - nearly $1 million

    Democrats support common sense and fair development practices

    Democrats on the Town Council have consistently advocated for responsible development policies that ensure new projects contribute their fair share to town finances. Rather than excessive tax abatements that shift burdens to residents, Democrats support balanced approaches that both attract development and protect taxpayers.

    A Democratic approach to abatement would:

    1. Require fair taxation of new developments based on comparable properties
    2. Implement reasonable, time-limited abatements that don’t take a decade to payoff
    3. Focus tax incentives on projects that deliver clear community benefits beyond developer profits

    This balanced and consistent approach would increase Rocky Hill’s attractiveness to developers while ensuring they contribute appropriately to the community’s financial health.

    Rocky Hill Democrats support fair development that benefits all residents by ensuring equitable tax distribution and protecting residential taxpayers.

    The Kelson Row situation exemplifies the fundamental difference in governing philosophy. Rather than celebrating one-off development projects that don’t pay their fair share, Democrats advocate for sustainable growth strategies that strengthen our tax base for the long term, fund essential services, and prevent the continuous cycle of residential tax increases.

    What You Can Do

    As Rocky Hill faces another difficult budget season, residents have the power to make their voices heard:

    1. Sign up for our mailing list so you can stay informed on budget developments
    2. Attend upcoming budget hearings and speak during public comment periods
    3. Contact your Town Council representatives and:
      1.  express your concerns about continuous tax increases
      2. ask them to explain how the Kelson Row abatement benefits ordinary taxpayers
    4. Follow Democratic candidates who are committed to fair taxation and responsible development

    It’s time for Rocky Hill to pursue development that truly benefits everyone – not just developers receiving special tax treatment while residents shoulder the growing burden.

  • Amidst the Trump Administration’s Global Harms, Connecticut Democrats Plan Action

    Amidst the Trump Administration’s Global Harms, Connecticut Democrats Plan Action

    The Trump Administration has lost no time in deconstructing important government institutions, including the U.S. development agency, USAID. On Thursday, Rocky Hill Democrats hosted a speaker who shared an account of how swiftly shuttering USAID has hurt people abroad and the United States’ interests. With representatives from Rocky Hill, Durham, and Wethersfield present, we spent the evening sharing ways to take action to preserve our institutions. 

    Closing USAID hurts millions of people counting on American support

    USAID is an institution with global impact. To illustrate the support provided by the United States, Kristina Talbert-Slagle, the Chair of the Durham DTC, shared her experiences as the lead of a $15 million USAID award to help rebuild Liberia’s health system. Liberia, a small African country on the Atlantic coast, was one of the three countries most disastrously impacted by the Ebola crisis from 2014 to 2015. About 1 of every 12 healthcare workers in Liberia was killed by Ebola. The program headed by Talbert-Slagle, and the broader array of US-Funded support, enabled the building of a major hospital in Liberia’s capital city, the training and strengthening of the country’s health care workforce, and delivering critical, life-saving treatments. 

    A woman with dark skin in a yellow safety suit prepares to enter a medical room
    Felicia, a 29 year old Liberian nurse supported by USAID, prepares to go inside the Ebola patient ward to draw blood from confirmed patients for testing

    Despite its outsized impact, Talbert-Slagle pointed out that funding for USAID makes up less than 0.7% of the U.S. gross national income. While claiming to save money for the American people, President Trump and Elon Musk have targeted less than a penny for every dollar spent. In exchange for their efforts, they strike at the health, safety, and prosperity of many people at home and abroad. 

    Talbert-Slagle described how the sudden, unplanned attempt to close USAID has impacted Liberians. 

    “We’ve had to issue layoff notices to 48 people in Liberia, many of whom are leading practitioners in the University of Liberia College of Health Sciences. That has been extremely painful. I can’t even begin to say how painful it has been…Food is rotting that’s supposed to be distributed to people. Medicines are expiring.”

    The reality is that people will die as a result of the decision. During the Ebola crisis, thousands of people died of a disease that is relatively hard to spread. When a health-care system that still relies so heavily on aid from the U.S. and others loses support, it results in people losing the care that might have protected them from getting dangerously ill or treating them when they are sick. 

    Failing to act internationally hurts Americans

    As Talbert-Slagle illustrated, slashing USAID hurts the U.S. as well as our international partners, in several ways:

    • Disrupting federal investment in health puts Americans at risk. If we don’t have partners to detect the spread of diseases and treat them overseas, they are more likely to come here to the United States. “We can’t protect ourselves simply by locking down the border,” says Talbert-Slagle, pointing out how pathogens don’t respect borders. “You know, an airborne pathogen can get here before we even know it.” You can read more about airborne transmission of many different pathogens here.
    • America’s departure hurts our soft power and leaves a vacuum to be filled by others. America gains influence on world affairs through our support for other countries. Withdrawing that support not only damages world confidence that the U.S. is a reliable partner, it leaves space for other countries to have greater influence. For example, Talbert-Slagle recounted that China’s Belt and Road Initiative provides critical infrastructure to Liberia and other countries. While the U.S. withdraws, China stays, and continues to build relationships across Africa.
    • American organizations are hurt by the cutting of foreign aid. USAID benefits American prosperity by engaging private sector, colleges and universities, faith-based organizations, non-profits, and research institutions. Cutting off that support impacts thousands of organizations across the majority of states in the country. 
    A map of the US showing a network of organizatons in many states where USAID partners with US instititutions
    A map of U.S. groups that partner with USAID

    You can have an impact by organizing at the local level

    Right now, people are looking for a way they can stop the harm done by the Trump administration to USAID and other critical institutions. Last night, Democrats from Rocky Hill, Durham, and Wethersfield all agreed that the first step is to come together to take action. As a community who can write letters, join protests, mobilize mutual aid groups, and vote, we can grow a power base to protect ourselves and take back power at the federal level. Here are things you can do, today, to start making a difference.

    • Join your local Democratic Town Committee, whether it be in Rocky Hill, Durham, Wethersfield, or your own town. These groups will be organizing hubs for taking action, and a community of like-minded people who can support you.
    • Sign up for our mailing list. We will keep you informed of important events and actions at the local level.
    • Visit our events and actions page, which list protests, actions, and other activities for building community and making a difference here at home. (Please contact us if you want to list an event).

    If we work together at a local level, we can grow a powerful group that can take power at the local, state, and national level. And we can build community, which will be critical to keeping our loved ones prosperous and safe.

    The Rocky Hill Dems want to offer a huge “thank you” to Kristina Talbert-Slagle for speaking with us, and we look forward to collaborating with Democrats from Durham, Wethersfield, and all over to make our country better.