This blog is informed by the concerns and research of engaged El Cerrito residents.
El Cerrito voters are once again being asked to open their wallets—this time for a new library. But before signing on to another tax, residents should ask: Who really benefits?
The Pattern: Promise a Service, Divert the Funds
This isn’t the first time voters have heard grand promises. El Cerrito’s tax measures were sold to the public as ways to expand services, protect core programs, and build a new senior center. Instead, the revenue was swept into the General Fund—with no meaningful service expansion and no senior center, a reduction in library hours and a 37.5 hour work week while the rest of us work 40+ hours.
Even the city’s federal ARPA funds, intended to help communities recover from the pandemic, were largely used to plug budget holes and sustain payroll—not to deliver direct community benefits.
Once money enters the General Fund, it can be spent at the discretion of the City Council—often rubber-stamping management’s priorities. Historically, that’s meant raises for senior staff, not services for residents.
We’ve seen this tactic before: claim a service will be maintained or enhanced, pass a tax, then redirect funds elsewhere. Now it’s happening again—with a library as the shiny new bait.
The San Rafael Comparison Falls Apart
El Cerrito’s library tax is modeled after San Rafael’s Measure P, but with a higher cost and fewer benefits.
San Rafael: 14.5 cents/sq ft with parking El Cerrito: 17 cents/sq ft with escalators but no parking
This is a significant cost increase for less accessibility.
Why Now?
The city is already floating the idea of another regional transit tax in 2026. Meanwhile, residents are being asked to commit to yet another “forever tax”—a term that entered local vocabulary with 2024’s Measure G.
The initial rate is about $300 per year for a typical homeowner—and it may escalate over time.
Serious Red Flags
The library might not be built. The project is years behind and hinges on a complex housing development. The tax only covers 10 years of operations. After that, expect another tax campaign. Funds now used for operating costs could be diverted—potentially to employee compensation—once the new tax is passed. The existing library site could be sold off, with proceeds going to salaries instead of services.
Key Questions to Ask
How will the city cover long-term operating costs after 10 years? Why rent expensive space for a library when the city already owns one? Why is there no dedicated parking? Why prioritize this over more urgent needs—like fire equipment or a new facility for older adults?
The Campaign’s Credibility Problem
The “grassroots” campaign is led by former Councilmember Greg Lyman, under whose leadership El Cerrito’s credit rating dropped from AA- to BBB-, even after multiple tax hikes.
And while the city’s original ballot language claimed no money would go to city officials, they quietly backtracked after a legal challenge. Read more here.
What You Can Do
Don’t let another tax slip through without scrutiny. Here’s how you can take action:
Ask tough questions at public events and signature-gathering booths—especially on July 4 at Cerrito Vista Park. Demand transparency from city leaders: Where is the ARPA money? What happened to the promised services? Refuse to sign any petition until the city provides honest answers and guarantees funding is tied to real outcomes—not vague promises. Speak up at City Council meetings, in letters to the editor, and on social media. Your voice matters. Support new leadership in 2026—leaders who will put residents, not raises, first.
Let’s stop the cycle of overpromising, overtaxing, and underdelivering. El Cerrito deserves better.
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 