For decades, El Cerrito has responded to fiscal pressures with one familiar tool: more taxes. From parcel taxes and storm drain assessments to multiple sales tax hikes and the 1.2% real property transfer tax, voters have repeatedly been asked to approve new revenue streams to “preserve city services” and “prevent cuts.”
Yet today, service levels are declining, crime is increasing, and the city is signaling that additional taxes may be on the horizon.
A History of Rising Taxes — With Little to Show for It
The record is clear:
- Four separate sales tax measures since 2008 have brought El Cerrito’s local rate to 1%, and in 2024, that tax was made permanent.
- Layered parcel assessments for storm drains, landscaping, lighting, and parks continue indefinitely.
- A real property transfer tax was added in 2018, creating a major new revenue stream on home sales.
- Residents still pay an 8% Utility Users Tax on essential services like gas, water, and telecom.
Despite these layers of taxation, El Cerrito continues to struggle with basic service delivery. Streets and sidewalks remain in disrepair. The Swim Center requires major renovation. Library access is uncertain. The senior center remains closed. The city has no established service delivery standards — and police efforts have not kept pace with community safety needs.
Recent crime trends, including auto burglaries and theft, underscore that higher taxes haven’t translated into stronger public safety or better quality of life.
Time for Fiscal Responsibility
The city must learn to live within its means and focus on improving service delivery — not expanding bureaucracy or chasing new initiatives. Instead of continually turning to taxpayers for more, leaders should focus on:
- Getting spending under control
- Prioritizing core services over new programs
- Improving financial management and accountability
- Building trust through transparency and measurable results
Residents have shown extraordinary willingness to support the city financially. But after nearly a dozen tax increases, tax fatigue is real. It’s time for City Hall to demonstrate that it can manage existing resources effectively before asking for more.
📊 El Cerrito Tax Measures Since 1993
| Year | Measure / Description | Type | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Storm Drain Assessment | Property Assessment | Funds storm drain improvements; ongoing |
| 1996 | Landscape & Lighting Assessment District (LLAD) | Property Assessment | Supports landscaping and streetlights; ongoing |
| 2000 | Measure H | Parcel Tax | Parks & Recreation facilities improvement |
| 2008 | Measure A | Sales Tax (0.5%) | Street repair and improvement |
| 2010 | Measure R | Sales Tax (0.5%) | 7-year general tax |
| 2014 | Measure R (Extension) | Sales Tax (1.0%) | 12-year general tax, raised to 1% |
| 2018 | Measure V | Real Property Transfer Tax (1.2%) | Charter city conversion; major new revenue |
| 2019 | Measure H (Extension) | Parcel Tax | Extended parks tax indefinitely, no increase |
| 2024 | Measure G | Sales Tax (1.0%) | Reauthorized existing 1% tax permanently |
| 2004 | Utility Users Tax (Reaffirmed) | Utility Tax | 8% on utilities including telecom, gas, water |
🗣 Call to Action: Hold City Hall Accountable
El Cerrito residents have stepped up time and again to keep the city afloat. Now, City Hall must do the same. Before asking for another tax, city leaders should:
- Show where the money goes. Publish clear, accessible reports on how each tax dollar is used.
- Measure what matters. Establish service delivery standards and report progress publicly.
- Rebuild public trust. Make transparency and fiscal discipline the priority — not an afterthought.
📩 Write to the City Council and ask them to focus on results — not new revenue.
Taxpayers have done their part. It’s time for the city to do theirs.
Published by the El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG)
Working for transparency and accountability since 2020.
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 