In March 2023, El Cerrito entered into contracts with both Gobe Research and Reynolds Strategies. One was for a contract for a research survey of El Cerrito voters, and the second was to assist the city with planning a strategy for a library bond measure. One contract was for 34,775 and the other was forContinue reading “What Is El Cerrito Hiding?”
Category Archives: Budget
More taxes to cover mismanagement – a fool’s errand.
El Cerrito’s Tax Dilemma: A Call for Accountability and Transparency El Cerrito boasts one of the most robust tax bases in California, yet there’s an ongoing push for even higher taxation. Alongside this, questions arise about the city’s responsible use of the previously approved taxes. Sales Tax in El CerritoAs of October 2023, El Cerrito’sContinue reading “More taxes to cover mismanagement – a fool’s errand.”
El Cerrito Wants to Charge a $300 / year Forever Tax
While El Cerrito’s population may be relatively small at 25,000, the city is ambitiously proposing a $21 million library project, which translates to an investment of $840 per resident towards its construction. This ongoing tax of around $300 per homeowner will sustain the library’s operations long after its completion. The city commissioned surveys among ElContinue reading “El Cerrito Wants to Charge a $300 / year Forever Tax”
Overtaxed and Underperforming
El Cerrito recently distributed a mailer seeking support for an upcoming tax increase proposal while emphasizing the importance of accountability and transparency. However, examining the City Manager’s track record in these areas is crucial before embracing the rhetoric. One concerning instance is the city’s expenditure of half a million dollars to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit,Continue reading “Overtaxed and Underperforming”
Business as Usual
While other cities placed a moratorium on travel and meals when revenues decreased during the pandemic, El Cerrito was business as usual, spending recklessly and mismanaging public funds. On April 30, 2022, the city manager spent $583.66 at San Rafael Joe’s – not an El Cerrito establishment. Apparently, there was a gathering for department heads,Continue reading “Business as Usual”
Performance Management
Series: Performance is only as good as the evidence indicates. Why does El Cerrito pay the City Manager over $235,000 plus generous benefits and perks just to have a pulse? Scott Hanin, who served as the City Manager at that time, announced his retirement, effective at the end of the calendar year 2018. In responseContinue reading “Performance Management”
Performance Management
Series: Performance is only as good as the evidence indicates. ICYMI, working hard in and of itself is not a reflection of outstanding leadership. Performance measurement is essential to the success of any City Manager because executives do not get paid to tread water, or make excuses but to consistently deliver measurable results. PerformanceContinue reading “Performance Management”
The deceit from El Cerrito has no bounds
YOU CAN’T JUST LEAVE THOSE WHO CREATED THE PROBLEM IN CHARGE OF THE SOLUTION is titled -The deceit from El Cerrito has no bounds Last week, EECRG reported the lack of transparency in presenting the financials to the public. The October meeting agenda, released Thursday, continues silence on Financial Updates and the fiscal year endingContinue reading “The deceit from El Cerrito has no bounds”
YOU CAN’T JUST LEAVE THOSE WHO CREATED THE PROBLEM IN CHARGE OF THE SOLUTION is titled GFOA Best Practices Budget on Achieving a Structurally Balanced Budget
Adopt rigorous policies for all operating funds aimed at achieving and maintaining a structurally balanced budget According to the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), “Most state and local governments are subject to a requirement to pass a balanced budget. However, a budget that may fit the statutory definition of a “balanced budget” may not beContinue reading “YOU CAN’T JUST LEAVE THOSE WHO CREATED THE PROBLEM IN CHARGE OF THE SOLUTION is titled GFOA Best Practices Budget on Achieving a Structurally Balanced Budget”
Waste and Abuse
This Series: YOU CAN’T JUST LEAVE THOSE WHO CREATED THE PROBLEM IN CHARGE OF THE SOLUTION Part I Tyree Scott was a U.S. labor leader and civil rights activist deeply involved in many minority workers’ and equal opportunity organizations. His quote, ‘You can’t just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solutionContinue reading “Waste and Abuse”
Oversight Needed
The last blog focused on DEEP DENIAL: More than Guard Rails Needed. This episode spotlights FUTURE TAX INITIATIVES SHOULD BE ATTACHED TO OVERSIGHT AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS. When finding a solution to the operating crisis facing El Cerrito, the only plan coming from City leaders is more taxes. Like many other Cities, El Cerrito adopted aContinue reading “Oversight Needed”
Deep Denial; More Guard Rails Needed
The last edition spotlighted the Need for Guard Rails. This edition highlights DEEP DENIAL: More than Guard Rails Needed. El Cerrito Council members have already missed and plan to miss future opportunities to address community challenges because they opted for an abbreviated summer schedule. According to the National League of Cities, local legislators and councilmembersContinue reading “Deep Denial; More Guard Rails Needed”
Time For The Guard Rails
The last blog focused on Deceit: How City Leadership Has Repeatedly Misled the Community. Today’s blog is titled Time For The Guardrails! The competing goals are playing themselves out as the volunteer three-member Financial Advisory Board tries to implement a policy for the General Reserve Fund for the City. What are these goals? Obviously, theContinue reading “Time For The Guard Rails”
Broken Promises
The last blog focused on the MORE TAXPAYER MONEY, PLEASE, and the eminent ask for more taxpayer bailouts. This episode spotlights Broken Promises: The myth that City Leadership allocates resources to improve the lives of El Cerrito residents. A new Library, a Senior Center, better services — these things elected El Cerrito Officials mindlessly assureContinue reading “Broken Promises”
MORE TAXPAYER MONEY, PLEASE
The last blog focused on the unbalanced budget and the eminent use of general fund reserves to balance the budget. This episode spotlights on MORE TAXPAYER MONEY, PLEASE. When finding a solution to the operating crisis facing El Cerrito, the only plan coming from City leaders is more taxes. That’s not a plan, but unlimitedContinue reading “MORE TAXPAYER MONEY, PLEASE”
El Cerrito’s Unbalanced Budget – Part I of a series on Fiscal Responsibility
El Cerrito had long been flagged on the California State Auditor’s dashboard of cities in distress. The City ranked as the sixth most troubled on the 2020 list, and the audit laid out how it wound up in such bad shape. City Manager Karen Pinkos spent 12 years as Assistant City Manager before becoming CityContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Unbalanced Budget – Part I of a series on Fiscal Responsibility”
The City Council Did Nothing
This blog has been consistently focused on the critical aspects of governance, accountability, and transparency within El Cerrito’s city administration. The Chief Executive Officer, who also holds the position of City Manager, carries the responsibility for overseeing both the operational and financial performance of El Cerrito. It is essential to note that the City ManagerContinue reading “The City Council Did Nothing”
Low Voter Turnout
Low voter turnout has allowed Gabe Quinto to keep his seat on the Council. As readers of this blog will likely surmise, this author is not pleased. Akin to a few other Contra Costa County results like the Sherriff’s and County Assessor’s races, El Cerrito lacks accountability, transparency and humanity in El Cerrito. Even so,Continue reading “Low Voter Turnout”
Press Release Gone Bad
Last week, the Council Members posted on social media. Then the City of El Cerrito issued a press release claiming victory over the financial crisis. Still, the State Auditor and the East Bay Times disagreed. On October 24, 2022, the East Bay Times article here said, “While this is the first year the cityContinue reading “Press Release Gone Bad”
Deep Denial by Council People
The State Auditor released its latest report earlier this week (Link to post) and scroll to the article. El Cerrito has improved seven spots from the 6th worst-run city to the 13th worst-run city. That means 417 California cities are better managed than El Cerrito. Yet some council members are patting themselves on the back.Continue reading ” Deep Denial by Council People”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 