The Cost of Overstaffing: How El Cerrito’s Bloated Payroll is Draining Public Resources

In a startling comparison between two neighboring cities, El Cerrito and Hercules, we find an alarming disparity that should concern every resident and taxpayer in El Cerrito. Both cities cover roughly four square miles and serve similar populations, yet El Cerrito’s staff size is nearly twice that of Hercules. This bloated staff not only burdens the city’s salary costs but also inflates pension liabilities, contributing significantly to El Cerrito’s enormous $90 million unfunded pension liability.

The Impact of Inflated Staffing

Why does this matter? The answer is simple: money. The larger the staff, the higher the salary and medical premium costs. But that’s just the beginning. Each additional employee also adds to the city’s pension obligations, which are already unsustainable. El Cerrito’s unfunded pension liability is a ticking time bomb, currently at $90 million and the city’s inability to manage its staff size responsibly is adding fuel to the fire.

Hercules, by contrast, manages to operate with roughly half the employees of El Cerrito. This isn’t due to a lack of services or lower standards; it’s the result of smarter, more efficient management and resource deployment. Hercules demonstrates that it is possible to run a city of this size effectively without burdening the taxpayers with unnecessary costs.

Management, Not Unions, at Fault

This is not an issue with the unions, as some might suggest. The problem lies squarely with city management. The City Manager, who is responsible for determining the size of the city staff, also sets the raises and pension benefits. Unfortunately, the El Cerrito City Council has gone along with this reckless expansion of the city’s payroll, approving these decisions without sufficient scrutiny.

It’s worth noting that many of the highest-paid staff in El Cerrito, including the City Clerk, are not even unionized. Despite this, they command salaries + benefits of $275,000 or more, a figure that is not only excessive but unsustainable for a city of just 25,000 people.

A Call for Accountability

El Cerrito’s inflated staff size is a glaring example of mismanagement. The City Manager’s decisions have cost the public buckets of money, and the long-term impact on the city’s financial health could be catastrophic. The comparison with Hercules should serve as a wake-up call. It is possible to run a city of this size efficiently, with fewer staff and lower costs, without sacrificing the quality of services.

The El Cerrito City Council must take immediate action to right-size the city’s staff and implement stricter oversight of the City Manager’s decisions. The current path is unsustainable and will only lead to further financial strain on the city’s residents.

It’s time for a change in how El Cerrito is managed—before it’s too late.

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