The City Council has its next meeting on September 15, 2020, at 7 pm. Here is the link to the e-packet-the budget information starts on page 121. This is a lot of information to digest. The City continues to not disseminate this information in a manner that is accessible to a resident that does not haveContinue reading “New Proposed Budget Book is out”
Author Archives: Citizen
Contra Costa Measure X
There are other things on the ballot El Cerrito residents need to pay attention to. Contra Costa County is trying to pass a .5% sales tax increase. El Cerrito currently has a sales tax of 9.75% so this would make our city sales tax 10.25% at a time when our economic development is very poorContinue reading “Contra Costa Measure X”
Tessa Rudnick answers the budget questions
As I wrote recently ECCFRG asked all of the candidates a series of questions in regards to the budget crisis. Tessa Rudnick sent in her responses Tuesday. We did allow each candidate a brief bio space also. The words below are all the candidate’s except for when I repeat the question. We thank Tessa RunnickContinue reading “Tessa Rudnick answers the budget questions”
Arthur Yee responds to the budget questions
As I wrote recently ECCFRG asked all of the candidates a series of questions in regards to the budget crisis. Art Yee sent in his response yesterday. We did allow each candidate a brief bio space also. The words below are all the candidate’s except for when I repeat the question. We thank Art YeeContinue reading “Arthur Yee responds to the budget questions”
Do only 2 of the City Council Candidates care about the budget?
A few weeks ago we sent emails to all of the candidates for the El Cerrito City Council and asked them the following questions. What is your analysis of how the city became insolvent and what changes will you make to ensure it does not happen again? How will you independently verify staff budget projectionsContinue reading “Do only 2 of the City Council Candidates care about the budget?”
Jennifer Greel answers the budget questions
As I wrote recently ECCFRG asked all of the candidates a series of questions in regards to the budget crisis. Jennifer Greel sent in her response today. We did allow each candidate a brief bio space also. The words below are all the candidate’s except for when I repeat the question. We thank Jennifer GreelContinue reading “Jennifer Greel answers the budget questions”
El Cerrito Staff continue to show lack of transparency with the budget
Tomorrow September 1st at 430pm El Cerrito City Council is having a special budget meeting. They have not yet completed their 20/21 budget which started in July. For information on the meeting click here. The meeting is once again scheduled at a time that is not accessible for many residents. While I understand that some of thisContinue reading “El Cerrito Staff continue to show lack of transparency with the budget”
Paul Fadelli Response to Budget Questions
As I wrote in my last post ECCFRG has asked all of the candidates a series of questions in regards to the budget crisis. Paul Fadelli sent in his response today so he is the first post to go up. We did allow each candidate a brief bio space also. The words below are allContinue reading “Paul Fadelli Response to Budget Questions”
What are our City Council Candidates thoughts on the budget crisis?
For the first time in a long time, we have an election with mostly outsiders running. There is one incumbent running, Paul Fadelli, who is endorsed by the El Cerrito Democratic Club, but there are 7 additional candidates. In no particular order they are: Isis Tessa Rudnick Matt Burnham Jennifer Greel Lisa Motoyama Arthur YeeContinue reading “What are our City Council Candidates thoughts on the budget crisis?”
Is El Cerrito Making Data Driven Financial Decisions?
This coming Tuesday, August 11th El Cerrito is having another meeting to discuss the budget. The consultants are recommending at least an additional 1.5 million dollars in cuts occur. Their recommendations are as follows: The problem with both the 1.5 million dollar number and the recommendations that are made is that there is no specificityContinue reading “Is El Cerrito Making Data Driven Financial Decisions?”
Take action-budget meeting August 1st
The City of El Cerrito will be hosting a virtual town hall on the budget on Saturday, August 1st From 10-12. For information on joining the Town Hall click here. We urge you to participate, and this is why: The city is facing a 5.5 million dollar budget deficit. The city has been very slowContinue reading “Take action-budget meeting August 1st”
El Cerrito budget crisis-How did we get here?
We have put together a slide show with a video to help explain more about the El Cerrito Budget Crisis.
23k paid to consultants who advised cutting the library hours.
Management Partners, the consultants used to advise on budget issues, were first hired for a 25k contract to help revise the Strategic Plan. The original contract was for between $25,900 and $32,500 depending on whether the city had Management Partners do the public workshop or not. About half way through that contract the city modifiedContinue reading “23k paid to consultants who advised cutting the library hours.”
We need YOU to run for City Council!
Three City Council Seats up for Election in November If you have felt like the City Council has not been representing you and the interests of the city now is the time to step up and run for council. In El Cerrito. traditionally the El Cerrito Democratic Club (which includes members that don’t live inContinue reading “We need YOU to run for City Council!”
The struggle for transparency in El Cerrito
I wrote previously about the TRAN loans that have been keeping the city afloat since 2011. On May 21, 2020, I sent a request for information on the costs of these loans. It specifically said “I saw in the supplemental slide set some info about the trans. What I would like to know is 1.Continue reading “The struggle for transparency in El Cerrito”
Looking backwards-El Cerrito did not get into a 5.5 million dollar hole yesterday. Part Two of Two
El Cerrito is in the midst of a major financial crisis. This the second of two blog posts addressing four issues we have found with how El Cerrito has managed it’s financial issues for years. Please refer back to the first post here and that post has the references used here also. NO LONG TERMContinue reading “Looking backwards-El Cerrito did not get into a 5.5 million dollar hole yesterday. Part Two of Two”
Looking backwards-El Cerrito did not get into a 5.5 million dollar hole yesterday. Part One of Two
El Cerrito is in the midst of a major financial crisis. In October 2019 the State Auditor stated that El Cerrito was #7 on the list of CA cities most likely to go bankrupt. The issue was so serious that the auditor got state approval to do a full audit of El Cerrito. Unfortunately dueContinue reading “Looking backwards-El Cerrito did not get into a 5.5 million dollar hole yesterday. Part One of Two”
El Cerrito is in a major financial crisis-major cuts proposed
Today the city of El Cerrito put out a packet for the planned budget meeting June 9th at 1pm. The Consultants were brutally honest. The link is here. I will copy some slides below but it is really important to view the entire packet. The consultants call out that El Cerrito was in a fiscalContinue reading “El Cerrito is in a major financial crisis-major cuts proposed”
El Cerrito’s history of loans to keep afloat
El Cerrito has been using Tax Revenue Anticipation Notes (TRANS) since 2011 to keep the government afloat. Someone online calls them payday loans and to a large extent that is what they look like. Each year more is borrowed. It started in 2011 with 3.5 million and in 2019 it was 9 million which wasContinue reading “El Cerrito’s history of loans to keep afloat”
El Cerrito was giving over 100K in car allowances
Post Updated with information from public records request June 2, 2020. I have added the employee positions that received this benefit. I have also clarified that the benefit for everyone except the city manager is $300 (I was told the prior number from a Council Person so I apologize for the error). The City ManagerContinue reading “El Cerrito was giving over 100K in car allowances”