El Cerrito stands out among its neighboring cities for its unusually high concentration of fire services, considering its population and geographic size. More than five years ago, the California State Auditor recommended that the city conduct a staffing analysis to determine the appropriate levels for each classification. While El Cerrito is finally conducting a staffing study, it comes five years later than recommended, and its scope and depth remain unclear.
Residents still don’t know whether the study will lead to any actionable recommendations—and if it does, they will likely be implemented incrementally, resulting in no meaningful reductions or additional years of delay in achieving cost savings.
As the data show, El Cerrito’s staffing levels appear to be significantly inflated compared to those of its neighbors, raising legitimate questions about the efficiency of its resource allocation and the burden on taxpayers. Overstaffing not only creates upward pressure on expenses, but it also significantly increases the city’s CalPERS retirement costs, further inflating the unfunded liability.
That liability now exceeds $80 million, and pension costs alone consume nearly 20% of the city’s budget—about $9 million annually. The city’s four Battalion Chiefs are among the most expensive positions in local government, and they do not contribute to front-line staffing. No other city of comparable size in Northern California employs more than one Battalion Chief, making El Cerrito an outlier.
These upper-management positions add heavily to the city’s long-term pension liability while diverting resources that could fund critical community services—such as restoring operations at the Senior Center, expanding library hours, or improving infrastructure maintenance.
With a population of roughly 26,000 served by three fire stations, El Cerrito 4.66 square miles, averages just 8,700 residents per station—far fewer than most of its peers. By comparison:
- Lafayette: 8,349 residents per station (3 stations, population 25,048, covering 15.20 sq. mi.)
- Martinez: 12,132 residents per station (3 stations, population 36,395, covering 12.47 sq. mi.)
- Richmond: 16,105 residents per station (7 stations, population 112,735)
- Berkeley: 16,745 residents per station (7 stations, population 117,214)
- Pleasant Hill: 16,901 residents per station (2 stations, population 33,802)
Despite covering only 4.66 square miles, El Cerrito maintains a far higher ratio of fire resources per capita than much larger cities such as Antioch (29,274 residents per station) or Concord (40,772 residents per station).
To ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and responsibly, El Cerrito must commission an independent, comprehensive staffing analysis—one that evaluates the appropriate levels for fire services and other departments and includes clear, actionable recommendations. Such a study would provide the data needed to align staffing with community needs, reduce unnecessary expenses, and begin addressing the city’s escalating pension burden.
Fiscal sustainability requires courage, transparency, and a willingness to make data-driven decisions—not merely maintaining the status quo at the expense of taxpayers.
Residents should urge the City Council to make the full staffing study public once completed and to commit to implementing its recommendations—not shelving them. Meaningful reform begins with transparency, accountability, and a shared commitment to using our limited resources wisely.
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El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 