A $75+ Million Gamble El Cerrito Can’t Afford

El Cerrito voters are being asked to consider a massive $75 million+ tax measure for a new library. But before agreeing to decades of new taxes, residents deserve to ask a simple question: what guarantee do we have that this library will ever get built?

The city’s current plan relies on the construction of a BART apartment building at El Cerrito Plaza. The library would be tucked into the ground-floor commercial space of that development. In exchange for contributing $21 million in city funds, El Cerrito would secure the lease.

But here’s the problem: $21 million is nowhere near enough to fund the project. Because the city mandated that half of the building be affordable housing, traditional financing options don’t apply. Developers would have to cobble together a fragile mix of grants, tax credits, and loans—funding sources that are increasingly competitive and uncertain.

That approach may have worked in the past when:

Interest rates were low Rentals near San Francisco were in high demand California’s budget was healthy The federal government wasn’t hostile to housing or California El Cerrito taxes were lower

Those conditions no longer exist. The reality is that the library site might not break ground for years—if ever. Even optimistic scenarios suggest construction might begin in 2027. More likely, we’re looking at delays of three, five, or even more years.

What happens if the tax passes and nothing gets built?

Residents would still be paying the bill, without any guarantee of seeing a new library. That risk is far too great.

Smarter Alternatives

Instead of gambling $75 million on an uncertain project, the city could take a more pragmatic approach. Why not explore leasing one of the many vacant commercial properties already standing in El Cerrito? Spaces like the former Barnes & Noble or one of the empty big-box stores on San Pablo Avenue could be transformed into a library far sooner, and at a fraction of the cost.

The Bottom Line

El Cerrito cannot afford to throw money at another project with no clear path to completion. Residents should demand accountability, realistic planning, and alternative options before committing to a “forever tax” that may never deliver what’s promised.