We reviewed the new Master Fee Schedule. The Council quietly approved the changes after about a decade of no changes. They could have explained the changes, but it’s hard to explain why El Cerrito residents are paying some of the highest costs in the region for basic city services. But it’s not because our services are better. It’s because the City of El Cerrito has built a costly, inefficient staffing and overhead structure — and residents are footing the bill every day.
The City’s own Master Fee Schedule shows what it really costs them to complete routine work. These fees are not market prices — they reflect the internal payroll and overhead required to get the job done.
That means every fee — every permit, every inspection, every small interaction — is a window into how expensively the City operates.
El Cerrito Is an Outlier in Payroll Costs
Compared to nearby cities performing the same public functions:
| City | Fully Burdened Staffing + Overhead | Cost Per Resident | Performance Notes |
| El Cerrito | Highest in region | $1,977 | Lower pavement condition, slower capital progress |
| Albany | Lower payroll cost | $1,684 | Smaller city, more efficient |
| Hercules | Lower payroll and contract service mix | $1,654 | Similar population and size as EC |
| Pinole | Competitive cost structure | $1,772 | More conservative service delivery |
Using the City’s own cost model, several standard permits illustrate this pattern.
The Cost of Bureaucracy — A Few Examples
These fees reflect the cost to City staff to perform the work, not what the City chooses to charge.
Source: El Cerrito Master Fee Schedule — fully burdened labor rates
2025-26 Master Fee Schedule – U…
| Service | El Cerrito Cost | If Albany Staff Did the Same Work | Difference |
| Tier 1 Project Review | $3,027 | $2,573 | Residents pay 18% more |
| Tier 1 Temporary Sign Permit | $122 | $104 | Residents pay 17% more |
| Building Re-Inspection | $254 | $216 | Residents pay 18% more |
| Rental Housing Inspection (single-family) | $334 | $284 | Residents pay 18% more |
And these are just a few. There are hundreds of fees just like them.
The Core Problem
El Cerrito’s budget isn’t bloated because:
✗ Our services are larger
✗ We offer more programs
✗ Our infrastructure is world-class
The real reason:
Too many layers of staffing + too much overhead for the work performed.
And when those systems underperform — as we’ve seen with pool repair delays, lack of a library plan, and declining streets — residents pay again, this time through new taxes.
Residents Pay More — While Services Underperform
El Cerrito families are already hit with:
✔ Higher fees
✔ Higher taxes
✔ Slower project delivery
✔ Lower quality results
This isn’t sustainable.
We deserve a city government that:
- Delivers more per dollar
- Sets staff levels based on real need
- Stops charging residents for inefficiency
What Needs to Change
A citywide operational assessment is long overdue. Priorities must include:
1️⃣ Right-sizing staffing to what is necessary
2️⃣ Aligning labor cost to service delivery
3️⃣ Eliminating redundant administrative layers
4️⃣ Transparent performance reporting
5️⃣ Long-term financial accountability
El Cerrito’s future depends on it.
Residents Can Drive Accountability
Demand clarity. Demand performance. Demand value.
Our community deserves a city that is:
Efficient. Responsible. And working for the people who pay the bills — us.
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 