Both Lisa Motoyama and Karen Pinkos consistently claim that El Cerrito is in a strong financial position. However, they often blur the line between restricted and unrestricted reserves, combining them to paint a rosier picture. What they don’t mention is that approximately $10 million of these reserves are restricted, meaning that they cannot be used for day-to-day operations or to address the city’s ongoing financial challenges. These funds are tied for natural and environmental disasters and pension liabilities, limiting their flexibility in addressing immediate financial concerns.
What’s particularly concerning is that neither Motoyama nor Pinkos has provided transparency about the city’s unrestricted fund balance, especially the current balance.
This lack of disclosure is critical because it hides the actual amount of money available for the city’s essential services and operational costs. Without a clear, up-to-date figure on the unrestricted reserves, residents cannot accurately assess the city’s true financial health.
This type of vague reporting and lack of transparency continues to mislead the public about the gravity of El Cerrito’s fiscal situation, making it difficult for residents to hold leadership accountable and push for the changes needed to ensure the city’s long-term stability.
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 