El Cerrito’s Tax Trail—and Why Voters Should Demand Accountability Before Approving Another $3 Million a Year For more than a decade, El Cerrito has asked residents to dig deeper into their wallets—promising better services, improved facilities, and stronger community programs. The problem? Despite layer upon layer of new taxes, residents still can’t see where theContinue reading “Where Did the Money Go?”
Author Archives: eccrg
El Cerrito Plaza TOD: Delays and Community Concerns
Written by a group of concerned citizens As concerned citizens of El Cerrito, we’ve followed the City’s plans for the El Cerrito Plaza Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) with great interest — and growing concern. This project was promoted as a showcase of smart growth, featuring dense housing near transit, new retail and public spaces, and aContinue reading “El Cerrito Plaza TOD: Delays and Community Concerns”
El Cerrito’s Tax Burden Is Driving People Away
Let’s talk about what no one at City Hall wants to admit — El Cerrito’s taxes are out of control. Our sales tax rate is among the highest in the region, making even everyday purchases feel like a penalty for shopping locally. Residents are voting with their wallets — going elsewhere to buy groceries, clothes, or hardware.Continue reading “El Cerrito’s Tax Burden Is Driving People Away”
El Cerrito: Tackling Excess Management and High Costs
El Cerrito’s $53.8 million operating budget is being stretched thin by payroll and pension costs that far exceed those of neighboring cities. Each year, the city spends about $8.5 million on required pension contributions — nearly 16% of the total operating budget — while still carrying an unfunded pension liability of roughly $83 million. ThatContinue reading “El Cerrito: Tackling Excess Management and High Costs”
Is El Cerrito’s Library Tax Too Vague? Key Concerns
The City of El Cerrito has released its official Notice of Intention regarding a proposed library tax measure. At first glance, it reads like a standard statement of purpose. But when you look closer, several key discrepancies emerge—raising questions about transparency, scope, and what residents are truly being asked to support. The Notice Frames theContinue reading “Is El Cerrito’s Library Tax Too Vague? Key Concerns”
Successful Library Funding: Lessons from Nearby Cities
When nearby cities like Pinole, San Pablo, and Albany wanted new libraries, they didn’t rush to tax their residents indefinitely — nor did they ask for three times more than the project actually costs. El Cerrito officials claim the new library will cost about $21 million, yet they’re asking voters to approve a tax thatContinue reading “Successful Library Funding: Lessons from Nearby Cities”
El Cerrito Library Tax: Neutrality or Campaigning?
In recent months, the City of El Cerrito has repeatedly claimed to be “neutral” on the proposed parcel tax to fund a new city library. Yet, by the City’s own account, it hired two consulting firms — Godbe Research and the Lew Edwards Group — to measure voter support and assess the feasibility of aContinue reading “El Cerrito Library Tax: Neutrality or Campaigning?”
Why the City Manager Must Communicate Decisions Clearly
We don’t expect a city manager to answer every email. But we do expect her to lead — and that means explaining the why behind major decisions that affect the people she serves. When residents ask legitimate questions about the library project, bond funding, or use of reserves, they deserve clear answers — not silenceContinue reading “Why the City Manager Must Communicate Decisions Clearly”
El Cerrito’s $21 Million Library Bond: A Ponzi Scam Disguised as Civic Investment
The City of El Cerrito is pressing residents to approve a tax so they can secure a $21 million bond to construct a 20,000 sq ft library. But make no mistake: this bond is less about serving the public and more about benefiting the developer and bailing out the city for mismanagement and inflated staffing.Continue reading “El Cerrito’s $21 Million Library Bond: A Ponzi Scam Disguised as Civic Investment”
El Cerrito’s Pattern of Tax-and-Fade Governance
El Cerrito has a long history of asking residents to approve new taxes with big promises — only to quietly reroute those funds into the general fund once the measure passes. The result? Broken commitments, deferred maintenance, and declining trust. Time after time, residents have voted in good faith, believing they were investing in specificContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Pattern of Tax-and-Fade Governance”
Leadership Accountability in El Cerrito: Beyond Crisis Management
El Cerrito runs three fire stations, each with at least one fire engine. A standard fire engine has a 15-year lifespan, and one of El Cerrito’s engines has already reached that limit. According to the Fire Chief, it has required significant and costly repairs and should have been replaced years ago. During the June budgetContinue reading “Leadership Accountability in El Cerrito: Beyond Crisis Management”
When “Act Now” Becomes “Pay More Later”
Tuesday’s City Council meeting was yet another reminder of why El Cerrito residents struggle to trust city leadership. What was presented as a simple discussion about the pool turned into something far more revealing — and far more troubling. Councilmember Rebecca Saltzman echoed a familiar refrain: we’d better do it now, because prices will onlyContinue reading “When “Act Now” Becomes “Pay More Later””
The Bait and Switch on the Agenda
Tuesday’s City Council meeting was another reminder of why El Cerrito residents struggle to trust city leadership. What was presented as a straightforward discussion about the pool quickly turned into something else entirely. Item 9B, titled “Swim Center Lap Pool Renovation Options,” bundled in an entirely separate need — the fire truck replacement. That wasn’tContinue reading “The Bait and Switch on the Agenda”
El Cerrito’s Borrowing Dilemma: Prioritizing Costs
Borrowing for the future means paying for the past first. El Cerrito’s Fiscal SnapshotBond Rating Update: Upgraded September 9, 2025 Outstanding Pension Liability: Over $80 million (CalPERS) New Borrowing Planned: Library construction bond, Fall 2025 Untrstricted General Fund Reserves: Below the recommended GFOA target of 15% and City Policy of 17% Risk: Rising long-term costsContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Borrowing Dilemma: Prioritizing Costs”
El Cerrito City Council’s MOU: Long-Term Costs and Impacts
Tomorrow, the El Cerrito City Council will vote on a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United Professional Firefighters Local 1230, which includes modifications to salary and benefit language and an appropriation of $120,116 from the General Fund’s unassigned balance.On the surface, that may sound routine — a standard labor adjustment. But beneath theContinue reading “El Cerrito City Council’s MOU: Long-Term Costs and Impacts”
Why El Cerrito Needs a Capital Renewal Plan Now
El Cerrito residents already pay a dedicated pool tax, yet the City Council is now considering using more of the General Fund reserves to repair the Swim Center’s lap pool. This isn’t about a lack of funding — it’s about how the City has managed (or failed to manage) the money it already collects. AContinue reading “Why El Cerrito Needs a Capital Renewal Plan Now”
El Cerrito’s Leadership Problem: Passion Without Performance
Rising costs, shrinking services, and weak fiscal oversight are signs of a city led by well-meaning advocates—not disciplined stewards. El Cerrito residents are paying more but getting less. Service delivery has declined, costs have risen, and the city has repeatedly drawn on its reserves to balance its budget. The result: a community with stretched publicContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Leadership Problem: Passion Without Performance”
El Cerrito Needs Fiscally Responsible Leadership — Not More Endorsements of the Status Quo
Courtney Helion has formed a campaign committee to run for El Cerrito City Council again in 2026, which signals that either Gabe or Carolyn will not seek re-election. In her previous campaign, Courtney was backed by former Mayor Greg Lyman, who helped send the city into near bankruptcy, is a proponent of new taxes andContinue reading “El Cerrito Needs Fiscally Responsible Leadership — Not More Endorsements of the Status Quo”
El Cerrito’s Selective Spending: Expert Voices Without Expertise
From a recent social media discussion. At the October 7 City Council meeting, the Council considered authorizing an additional $391,000 to Ghirardelli Associates for “construction management services” related to the El Cerrito Del Norte Transit-Oriented Development Complete Streets Project. This wasn’t a competitive bid. It was a contract extension, justified by claims that the originalContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Selective Spending: Expert Voices Without Expertise”
Too Many Staff, Too Little Service
Staffing Levels: A Key Driver of Payroll, Pension Costs, and Declining Productivity El Cerrito’s staffing structure is significantly larger and more expensive than those of peer cities of similar size. This isn’t just about “overhead” — it’s a major driver of payroll and pension costs that are consuming the city’s operating budget. The city’s $53.8Continue reading “Too Many Staff, Too Little Service”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 