The city faces an undeniable challenge: its staffing levels and payroll far exceed what is necessary to deliver essential services. Basic responsibilities like street maintenance, park upkeep, and permitting are falling short, while the workforce and associated costs continue to grow unchecked. Adding to the frustration, public information requests are often delayed or denied, leaving residents wondering how their tax dollars are spent.
Services That Don’t Match the Price Tag
Core city services like maintaining streets, sidewalks, parks, and processing permits are falling below expectations. Roads need repair, parks aren’t maintained to the standards residents expect, and the permitting process often feels unnecessarily complicated. Meanwhile, other cities provide comparable or superior services with much lower staffing levels and significantly lower payroll and pension cost.
Staffing Comparison: How We Measure Up to Nearby Cities
The city employs significantly more staff per capita than neighboring cities. Here’s how staffing levels compare:
- Our City:
- Population: Approximately 25,000
- Total Employees: 384
- Employees per 1,000 Residents: 15.36
- San Pablo:
- Population: Approximately 31,000
- Total Employees: 252
- Employees per 1,000 Residents: 8.13
- Albany:
- Population: Approximately 20,000
- Total Employees: 208
- Employees per 1,000 Residents: 10.4
- Hercules:
- Population: Approximately 25,000
- Total Employees: 192
- Employees per 1,000 Residents: 7.68
These figures highlight a clear disparity. Staffing levels here are nearly double those of nearby cities, raising questions about operational efficiency and priorities.
Public Information Concerns
Transparency is another key issue. Residents requesting public records often face delays, incomplete information, or outright denials. Accessing budget data, policy details, or financial reports feels unnecessarily difficult. Why aren’t taxpayers given clear answers about how their money is being used?
Time for Change
Addressing these challenges requires bold action. Here are some steps city leaders should consider:
- Conduct an Efficiency Audit: Assess staffing levels and operational costs to identify redundancies.
- Focus on Core Services: Prioritize visible, tangible improvements like road repairs, park maintenance, and smoother permitting processes.
- Ensure Transparency: Make public records and financial reports easily accessible.
- Engage Residents: Include community members in discussions about budget priorities and service improvements.
- Rethink Financial Practices: Focus on sustainable strategies rather than relying on repeated tax increases.
If you’d like to share your comments with the City Council to be included in their council packet, contact the City Clerk at cityclerk@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us.
Let’s start the conversation—what changes would you like to see? Share your thoughts below!
Meet Your City Council Members
As of December 2024, the following individuals represent the community on the City Council:
- Carolyn Wysinger, Mayor (Term Ends: 2026)
Email: cwysinger@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us - Gabe Quinto, Council Member (Term Ends: 2026)
Email: gquinto@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us - Lisa Motoyama, Council Member (Term Ends: 2028)
Email: lmotoyama@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us - Rebecca Saltzman, Council Member (Term Ends: 2028)
Email: rsaltzman@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us - William Ktsanes, Council Member (Term Ends: 2028)
Email: wktsanes@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
Reach out to your representatives to share concerns and ideas. Engaging with our elected officials is key to driving positive change. Let’s work together to ensure our government reflects the values and priorities of the community!
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 