Ask the Right Questions – Get Honest Answers

— El Cerrito’s $100M Library Tax Initiative Deserves Scrutiny

As El Cerrito residents gather for the 4th of July Festival—complete with vendor booths, food trucks, and carnival rides—you’ll likely see another attraction: petitioners collecting signatures for the $100 million Library Parcel Tax Initiative. But before you sign anything—or agree to fund a project that binds taxpayers for three decades—it’s time to ask some tough questions. If those questions aren’t answered clearly and convincingly, the right move is simple: vote no on the tax.

What Is This Really About? According to the city attorney’s official summary, the proposed initiative would impose a new parcel tax to fund the planning, construction, furnishing, and operation of a new library for up to 10 years. The tax itself would continue for 30 years from the issuance of construction bonds. That means: The tax will be collected before construction begins. The vote likely takes place before the housing developer even secures financing. Taxpayers could be locked into this obligation for three decades, regardless of whether the library ever gets built.

Ask These Questions Before You Sign

🧾 What happens if the housing project fails? The library is tied to a mixed-use development. What if the developer doesn’t receive tax credits or other public subsidies? Do we end up with a tax and no library?

📅 What happens after 10 years of library operations? The measure funds operations for only 10 years. What’s the long-term plan after that? Will the city ask for another tax?

💰 What happens if the city over-collects? The tax rate can be adjusted annually. If revenues exceed costs, what will the city do with the surplus? Refund it—or quietly redirect it?

🏛 Can El Cerrito really afford this? With persistent financial pressures, is this the time to take on a 30-year tax? Why not consider using existing vacant properties already owned by the city?

📊 What’s the true cost? Though the project is billed as a $21 million library, the actual taxpayer burden over 30 years could easily exceed $100 million, once you include interest on bonds, fees, and administrative overhead.

Don’t Be Rushed. Don’t Be Fooled. The petitioners want your signature starting July 4th, with the goal of placing the measure on the November 2026 ballot. But this extended timeline also means there’s no excuse for lack of transparency. If the city can’t answer basic questions now, why should we trust them to manage a multi-million-dollar commitment?

Oversight Isn’t a Guarantee of Good Governance. Yes, there will be an audit and an oversight board. But audits don’t stop misguided spending, and oversight boards don’t always have the power—or independence—to stop projects from going off course. A “yes” vote now gives the city a long-term revenue stream before any construction is confirmed, before any operational plan is finalized, and before anyone knows whether the development is viable at all.

Bottom Line: Ask First. Sign Later. At the July 4th event, while you’re enjoying the festivities, take a moment to ask the petitioners: What’s the fallback plan if the project fails? Why does the tax last 30 years if operations are only funded for 10? What’s the site plan and timeline? Where’s the accountability for extra funds? Why not use one of the city’s existing underutilized properties?

If you don’t get clear, credible answers, don’t sign. And when it comes time to vote, make sure to vote no on the library tax.

📍 This Independence Day, enjoy the food, rides, and community spirit—but don’t give away your vote for free. Ask the hard questions. El Cerrito deserves answers.