What Grade Does El Cerrito Earn?

A Civic Report Card Behind the Illusion of Progress

El Cerrito City Hall paints a picture of progress—balanced budgets, climate goals, vibrant neighborhoods. However, behind the branding is a different reality. Services have disappeared, debt has grown, and infrastructure has declined.

While public statements promise fiscal stability and community investment, the numbers tell a different story. Let’s evaluate the city not by its slogans, but by its outcomes.

CREDIT RATING: From A- to BBB

In 2018, El Cerrito held an A- credit rating. Today, the city is rated BBB—barely investment grade and only one notch above “junk.” A lower rating means fewer options, higher borrowing costs, and greater taxpayer risk.

Grade: C-

PENSION DEBT: Soaring and Unsustainable

In 2018, the city’s unfunded pension liability stood at $67 million. That number has now jumped to over $89 million. The annual payment to CalPERS has also surged—up from $4.8 million to nearly $8 million.

That’s more money diverted from parks, public safety, and street repairs to cover the cost of retirement benefits promised long ago—with no meaningful solution in sight.

Grade: D

STREET QUALITY: A Declining Asset

Once one of El Cerrito’s strongest points, road conditions are slipping. The Pavement Condition Index (PCI) fell from 82 in 2018 to 68 today—a 14-point decline. This kind of drop doesn’t just impact comfort; it signals mounting repair costs down the line.

Grade: C-

OHLONE GREENWAY: A Neglected Community Asset

The Ohlone Greenway, a car-free corridor ideal for walking and biking, is just a few blocks from Richmond Street. In theory, it should solve local transit issues. But in reality, it’s suffering from neglect: uneven pavement, poor lighting, and inconsistent maintenance.

City vehicles and police occasionally use the path, but for most residents, it no longer feels like a well-maintained public amenity.

Grade: D+

SENIOR SERVICES: Erased

In 2018, El Cerrito had a dedicated Senior Center that offered meals, recreation, and a community space for older residents. Today, it does not. The building is gone, and with it, the vital connections and services it provided.

For a city that claims to value equity and inclusion, cutting services to seniors—among the most vulnerable—raises serious concerns.

Grade: F

CRIME: A Growing Concern

Crime has become a growing issue, particularly in the form of property crime—auto break-ins, theft, and catalytic converter thefts. Though violent crime remains relatively low, public safety concerns are rising.

Police staffing and response times are strained, and many residents feel less safe than they did five years ago.