Fiscal Officer Heather Rockwell: Rebuilding a financially stable future for the Village of Jacksonville
February 26, 2026
By Emily Stokes
Like many small villages in Appalachia, fiscal stability and compliance is an important part of managing and upkeeping books. Located in Athens County, the Village of Jacksonville has seen a transformation in resources, funding and growth thanks to the efforts of Fiscal Officer Heather Rockwell.
To Rockwell, each decision officials make reflects some 400 voters in the village, and with each decision she considers how those changes will impact the community, employees and the village as a business.
A Passion for Problem-Solving
Rockwell, a lifetime Perry County resident, started straight out of college with an accounting degree working in the Village of New Lexington.
Holding positions both as income tax administrator and finance director there, she has worked frequently with the Auditor of State’s office to rectify issues and train on local government services.
“I learned everything the hard way, and I learned very quickly what not to do, because I could see the evidence of that right out of the gate.” Rockwell said. “But I wouldn’t change a thing, because learning it the hard way and having the training, the right guidance was everything.”
When asked what keeps her coming back to face and fix problems in local government, Rockwell said by nature she feels she is a problem solver and puzzle lover. She said this makes the job more enjoyable, cleaning up messes and finding ways to adapt rather than the mundane.
“It’s an exciting job because of the things that creep up and legislative changes that you don’t anticipate, and you have to pivot with those,” Rockwell said. “I love that aspect of it, because I love to come into a mess, figure out what went wrong, and then come up with solutions.”
She said, for fiscal officers, working with numbers on paper makes forecasting like a crystal ball, finding ways to adapt and make recommendations to the local council.
Rockwell said she also enjoys finding ways to be a mentor and continues to offer support for other new fiscal officers who need help navigating procedures, law, software, or even just a shoulder to cry on when things are tough.
“I am always available for anyone new, scared, seasoned with a problem. Absolutely go to Jacksonville’s website, my information is right there, and reach out to me,” Rockwell said.
Local Growth and Grant Funding Projects
With the village’s financials back in order, Rockwell said the area has been able to look forward, working on grant-funded projects and community-oriented spaces.
The Village of Jacksonville was recently awarded $2.2 Million in grant funding, with $750,000 from Appalachian Regional Council, $750,000 from a Neighborhood Revitalization grant, and $100,000 from the Community Development Block Program grant, CDBG. The village also recently completed a $250,000 paving project through the Ohio Public Works Commission, Rockwell said.
The village has also been able to transition Rockwell to full-time, and allowed for expanded services like office hours, online bill payment and even a website, making things more convenient for residents.
“It’s exciting to me what this village has been able to accomplish,” Rockwell said. “But it’s also because there’s such a good team here, and those individuals have changed over the years.”
She said she is thankful that despite changes over the years between council members and other local officials, teamwork has remained.
One of the largest projects Rockwell says she is looking forward to is the creation of a professional soundstage amphitheater in the park, giving the community a collective space for events, better suited for large crowds.
“I feel like we fought hard for that amphitheater, and it paid off in the end, and it’s so much better than the rickety little stage that we had,” Rockwell said. “It was actually the Mayors’ Partnership for Progress that helped us put together and submit the cost-benefit analysis with our grant.”
Extended Teamwork Through the Mayors’ Partnership
Not only was grant support a large benefit to the village, but a boost to the community’s support systems as well. Rockwell said the MPP has been an invaluable resource for the area, being able to network with other communities, relating on shared issues and problem-solving.
“Your team is your greatest resource, and it feels like an additional team that makes us this larger entity,” Rockwell said. “Without that team, I don’t know where we would be. Honestly, we would not have the amphitheater if it hadn’t been for the Mayor’s Partnership.”
Rockwell said both the legislative pull and the diversity of municipality sizes represented at the monthly meetings allows her to see other communities’ perspectives. She also said viewing the problems bigger cities face serves as a glimpse into the future for small villages like Jacksonville.
“Those big city problems eventually trickle down to villages too. So I want to hear what they have to say even though it doesn’t apply to us right now,” Rockwell said. “If they’re fighting against it now, they’re saving us the trouble later on.”
Rockwell said for what she has gained from the organization, the dues are well worth the price.
“Everyone should be a part of this. If you qualify to be a member, you should be a member,” Rockwell said. “But don’t just pay your dues. Attend the meetings, because the information that’s discussed in those meetings, I get so much out of.”
Even through the legislative power of the body, Rockwell says she feels the MPP represents the interests of smaller villages too, better balancing the playing field between small and larger communities.
“I truly feel they do cater to small villages, and I’ve never seen another organization that does cater,” Rockwell said. “Now I feel like we have a voice.”
By Emily Stokes
Like many small villages in Appalachia, fiscal stability and compliance is an important part of managing and upkeeping books. Located in Athens County, the Village of Jacksonville has seen a transformation in resources, funding and growth thanks to the efforts of Fiscal Officer Heather Rockwell.
To Rockwell, each decision officials make reflects some 400 voters in the village, and with each decision she considers how those changes will impact the community, employees and the village as a business.
A Passion for Problem-Solving
Rockwell, a lifetime Perry County resident, started straight out of college with an accounting degree working in the Village of New Lexington.
Holding positions both as income tax administrator and finance director there, she has worked frequently with the Auditor of State’s office to rectify issues and train on local government services.
“I learned everything the hard way, and I learned very quickly what not to do, because I could see the evidence of that right out of the gate.” Rockwell said. “But I wouldn’t change a thing, because learning it the hard way and having the training, the right guidance was everything.”
When asked what keeps her coming back to face and fix problems in local government, Rockwell said by nature she feels she is a problem solver and puzzle lover. She said this makes the job more enjoyable, cleaning up messes and finding ways to adapt rather than the mundane.
“It’s an exciting job because of the things that creep up and legislative changes that you don’t anticipate, and you have to pivot with those,” Rockwell said. “I love that aspect of it, because I love to come into a mess, figure out what went wrong, and then come up with solutions.”
She said, for fiscal officers, working with numbers on paper makes forecasting like a crystal ball, finding ways to adapt and make recommendations to the local council.
Rockwell said she also enjoys finding ways to be a mentor and continues to offer support for other new fiscal officers who need help navigating procedures, law, software, or even just a shoulder to cry on when things are tough.
“I am always available for anyone new, scared, seasoned with a problem. Absolutely go to Jacksonville’s website, my information is right there, and reach out to me,” Rockwell said.
Local Growth and Grant Funding Projects
With the village’s financials back in order, Rockwell said the area has been able to look forward, working on grant-funded projects and community-oriented spaces.
The Village of Jacksonville was recently awarded $2.2 Million in grant funding, with $750,000 from Appalachian Regional Council, $750,000 from a Neighborhood Revitalization grant, and $100,000 from the Community Development Block Program grant, CDBG. The village also recently completed a $250,000 paving project through the Ohio Public Works Commission, Rockwell said.
The village has also been able to transition Rockwell to full-time, and allowed for expanded services like office hours, online bill payment and even a website, making things more convenient for residents.
“It’s exciting to me what this village has been able to accomplish,” Rockwell said. “But it’s also because there’s such a good team here, and those individuals have changed over the years.”
She said she is thankful that despite changes over the years between council members and other local officials, teamwork has remained.
One of the largest projects Rockwell says she is looking forward to is the creation of a professional soundstage amphitheater in the park, giving the community a collective space for events, better suited for large crowds.
“I feel like we fought hard for that amphitheater, and it paid off in the end, and it’s so much better than the rickety little stage that we had,” Rockwell said. “It was actually the Mayors’ Partnership for Progress that helped us put together and submit the cost-benefit analysis with our grant.”
Extended Teamwork Through the Mayors’ Partnership
Not only was grant support a large benefit to the village, but a boost to the community’s support systems as well. Rockwell said the MPP has been an invaluable resource for the area, being able to network with other communities, relating on shared issues and problem-solving.
“Your team is your greatest resource, and it feels like an additional team that makes us this larger entity,” Rockwell said. “Without that team, I don’t know where we would be. Honestly, we would not have the amphitheater if it hadn’t been for the Mayor’s Partnership.”
Rockwell said both the legislative pull and the diversity of municipality sizes represented at the monthly meetings allows her to see other communities’ perspectives. She also said viewing the problems bigger cities face serves as a glimpse into the future for small villages like Jacksonville.
“Those big city problems eventually trickle down to villages too. So I want to hear what they have to say even though it doesn’t apply to us right now,” Rockwell said. “If they’re fighting against it now, they’re saving us the trouble later on.”
Rockwell said for what she has gained from the organization, the dues are well worth the price.
“Everyone should be a part of this. If you qualify to be a member, you should be a member,” Rockwell said. “But don’t just pay your dues. Attend the meetings, because the information that’s discussed in those meetings, I get so much out of.”
Even through the legislative power of the body, Rockwell says she feels the MPP represents the interests of smaller villages too, better balancing the playing field between small and larger communities.
“I truly feel they do cater to small villages, and I’ve never seen another organization that does cater,” Rockwell said. “Now I feel like we have a voice.”
