Over the past decade, El Cerrito’s city budget has grown from $54.8 million in FY 2015-16 to $65.3 million in FY 2024-25—an increase of $10.5 million, or 19.1%. Despite this significant rise, residents have seen fewer services instead of the expanded programs or enhanced infrastructure one might expect from such a budgetary increase. The closure of the senior center and reduced library hours are just a few examples of the city’s retreat from providing essential services.
This troubling trend of higher budgets paired with diminished services raises serious concerns about how the city manages taxpayer dollars.
A Decade of Rising Budgets
Here’s the year-by-year progression of El Cerrito’s budget:
- FY 2015-16: $54.8 million
- FY 2016-17: $56.3 million (+2.7%)
- FY 2017-18: $57.1 million (+1.4%)
- FY 2018-19: $58.2 million (+1.9%)
- FY 2019-20: $59.7 million (+2.6%)
- FY 2020-21: $60.4 million (+1.2%)
- FY 2021-22: $61.2 million (+1.3%)
- FY 2022-23: $63.8 million (+4.3%)
- FY 2023-24: $64.1 million (+0.5%)
- FY 2024-25: $65.3 million (+1.9%)
While a steadily increasing budget often suggests expanded services, El Cerrito’s residents have instead experienced cutbacks that directly impact their quality of life.
Reduced Services for Residents
Despite the 19.1% increase in spending, El Cerrito has scaled back essential services, leaving residents with less for their money. Some of the most notable reductions include:
- Library Hours: Operating hours have been reduced, limiting access to an essential educational and community resource.
- Senior Center: Once a vibrant hub for seniors, the senior center has been completely closed, leaving older residents without critical support.
- Parks and Recreation: Reduced maintenance schedules have left parks and recreation areas in decline.
- Community Programs: Many recreational and cultural programs have been eliminated or drastically scaled back.
These reductions are a far cry from the improvements residents should expect when the city’s budget grows by over $10 million in a decade.
Deficit Spending and the Real Property Transfer Tax
To address its deficits, the city implemented a real property transfer tax on property sales. Initially, this tax provided a much-needed revenue stream, but it is no longer growing as anticipated due to a cooling real estate market.
El Cerrito cannot continue this trajectory of rising costs and shrinking services. Residents deserve financial transparency and responsible spending from their city leadership. Here’s what needs to happen:
With this revenue plateauing, the city is facing a harsh financial reality: without significant changes, the only way to sustain its current spending levels would be to raise taxes again. This is a concerning prospect for residents who already face some of the highest sales and property taxes in the region.
- Conduct a Comprehensive Audit: The city must thoroughly review its expenditures to identify inefficiencies and eliminate waste.
- Restore Essential Services: Priority must be given to reopening the senior center, restoring library hours, and maintaining parks and recreational spaces.
- Commit to No New Taxes: Residents already pay some of the highest taxes in the region. The city must live within its means rather than passing the burden onto taxpayers.
Contact Your Council Members
El Cerrito’s residents must demand better financial management and accountability from their elected officials. Contact your City Council members today and urge them to:
- Make the necessary cuts to ensure sustainable spending.
- Prioritize the restoration of essential services.
- Oppose any proposals for new taxes.
Additionally, you can contact the City Clerk to have your commentary included in the City Council packets. This ensures your concerns are officially documented and considered during council meetings.
You can reach the City Clerk, Holly M. Charléty, at cityclerk@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us.
Your voice matters. Together, we can push for the responsible fiscal policies El Cerrito needs to restore its services without adding to the tax burden on its residents.
The Bottom Line
El Cerrito’s budget has grown by nearly 20% over the past decade, but instead of delivering more, the city has delivered less. The closure of the senior center, reduced library hours, and scaled-back community programs are unacceptable in the face of a rising budget.
Residents deserve better. Let’s hold our city leaders accountable and demand a sustainable, service-focused future for El Cerrito—without new taxes.
The message is clear: No new taxes. Restore our services. Practice fiscal responsibility. Contact your council members and the City Clerk today and make your voice heard.
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 