Many of us remember last year’s budget cycle when Claire Coleman and Will Provost led the outreach and budget presentations. Although their presentations lacked substantial community input, they were both articulate easy to understand and extemporaneous. This year, the City Manager decided to shift the spotlight, offering the Finance Director, Crystal Reams, additional stage time.Continue reading “El Cerrito’s Budget Crisis: A Call for Financial Leadership”
Category Archives: City Staff
The Story Behind El Cerrito’s Budget Projections
El Cerrito’s financial projections paint a concerning picture for fiscal responsibility. The city’s unrestricted reserves are set to decrease from a beginning balance of $12.4 million to an ending balance of $11.4 million—a $1 million drop. A deeper dive reveals a troubling pattern of financial maneuvering that obscures the real state of fiscal health. TheContinue reading “The Story Behind El Cerrito’s Budget Projections”
Defining Financial Health for El Cerrito: Clear Benchmarks Require Clear Expectations
El Cerrito’s financial health cannot be left to broad aspirations and vague commitments. The City Council must be specific about its fiscal goals, setting clear, measurable expectations that guide budget decisions and financial planning. Without this clarity, financial stability becomes more of a hope than a strategy. The City Council Must Set the Agenda TheContinue reading “Defining Financial Health for El Cerrito: Clear Benchmarks Require Clear Expectations”
Progress Made, Challenges Remain
Five years ago, the California State Auditor identified El Cerrito as one of the 18 cities in California most at risk of bankruptcy due to fiscal mismanagement. Among nearly 500 cities, El Cerrito ranked seventh from the bottom in financial health and was placed in the state’s “Local Government High Risk Program.” Despite some progress,Continue reading “Progress Made, Challenges Remain”
Making Property Taxes Fair in El Cerrito: A Call for Balance and Affordability
El Cerrito is at a crossroads. As property taxes, sales tax, and now a proposed $300 parcel tax continue to rise, many homeowners feel squeezed by the financial burden of living here. The question is not just about funding vital services—it’s about ensuring that the people who already call El Cerrito home can afford toContinue reading “Making Property Taxes Fair in El Cerrito: A Call for Balance and Affordability”
Assessing Kensington’s Fair Share in Fire Services
When it comes to fire services, fairness and equity are essential to maintaining trust between neighboring communities. The El Cerrito-Kensington Fire Department, which provides critical fire protection and emergency medical services, serves both the city of El Cerrito and the smaller, affluent community of Kensington. However, questions have arisen about whether Kensington, with its populationContinue reading “Assessing Kensington’s Fair Share in Fire Services”
A Transparency Issue Beyond Just Numbers
Residents tuning into El Cerrito’s much-anticipated audit presentation were met with a frustrating and concerning reality: they simply couldn’t hear it. Those in attendance at the council chamber struggled to catch the details, while remote listeners missed most of the discussion entirely. What makes this situation even more perplexing is that earlier commentary during theContinue reading “A Transparency Issue Beyond Just Numbers”
El Cerrito Financial Audit: Transparency Concerns
As the community eagerly awaits the results of El Cerrito’s financial audit, concerns about transparency and clarity in the city’s financial reporting continue to mount. A concerned citizen recently highlighted critical questions that remain unanswered ahead of Tuesday’s city council meeting. Key Financial Terms Still Unclear Despite repeated calls for greater transparency, essential financial termsContinue reading “El Cerrito Financial Audit: Transparency Concerns”
El Cerrito’s Push for Cannabis Revenue: A Sustainable Strategy or a Red Flag?
In the upcoming El Cerrito City Council meeting, the focus turned to expanding cannabis opportunities as a revenue source. This comes on the heels of the establishment of two major dispensaries, NUG (opened in 2021) and STIIIZY (opened in 2023), which contribute community benefits fees and fund initiatives for local projects. While cannabis operations promiseContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Push for Cannabis Revenue: A Sustainable Strategy or a Red Flag?”
2025 El Cerrito Budget Priorities: No Meeting Scheduled
The last Priority Setting and Budget Kickoff for El Cerrito took place on January 13, 2024. Facilitated by consultants at a significant cost, the meeting was billed as an opportunity to shape the city’s goals and budget priorities. However, it left many community members disappointed. Concerns about insufficient advertising, minimal participation from city staff, andContinue reading “2025 El Cerrito Budget Priorities: No Meeting Scheduled”
Why El Cerrito’s Taxpayer Value is in Question
As the new year begins, residents of El Cerrito may notice a stark contrast between their city’s operations and those of neighboring municipalities. While cities like San Pablo, Richmond, Albany, and Hercules are conducting city council meetings during the first full week of January, El Cerrito’s City Hall remains closed, with staff on a two-weekContinue reading “Why El Cerrito’s Taxpayer Value is in Question”
El Cerrito Budget: Rising Costs, Fewer Services
Over the past decade, El Cerrito’s city budget has grown from $54.8 million in FY 2015-16 to $65.3 million in FY 2024-25—an increase of $10.5 million, or 19.1%. Despite this significant rise, residents have seen fewer services instead of the expanded programs or enhanced infrastructure one might expect from such a budgetary increase. The closureContinue reading “El Cerrito Budget: Rising Costs, Fewer Services”
El Cerrito: The Case for Ethical Governance
Good governance is not just about following the rules—it’s about doing what’s right for the people you serve. In El Cerrito, recent actions by city leaders highlight a troubling pattern: decisions that may be technically permissible but lack a moral compass and integrity. These choices raise critical questions about whether city leaders put the communityContinue reading “El Cerrito: The Case for Ethical Governance”
Holiday Message
As the year draws to a close, we want to take a moment to thank you for being an engaged and thoughtful part of our community. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or another tradition—or simply take this time to reflect and recharge—we wish you joy, peace, and the warmth of connection. The holiday seasonContinue reading “Holiday Message”
Editorial: El Cerrito’s Workplace Culture—Time to Align Words with Actions
El Cerrito’s progress in funding, infrastructure, and financial stability is worth recognizing. But a city’s success is more than a a list of checks paid or a groundbreaking ceremony—it’s the health of its workplace culture and the trust employees have in their leadership. Without addressing systemic issues, the foundation of these advancements remains fragile. TheContinue reading “Editorial: El Cerrito’s Workplace Culture—Time to Align Words with Actions”
What Did Management and Council Really Do?
They often claim they “worked hard to turn things around,” but here’s what actually happened: • Accepted $6.1 million in ARPA funds • Accepted $4 million+ per year in RPTT • Increased property taxes after revaluation • Benefited from increased sales tax revenue after court decisions ➡️ Over $12 million per year in extra revenues.Continue reading “What Did Management and Council Really Do?”
El Cerrito Leadership: Focus on True Community Progress
Leadership is about setting goals, taking responsibility, and achieving meaningful results. But sometimes, leaders get caught up in celebrating small successes rather at the cost of focusing on the larger challenges ahead. This seems to be the case in El Cerrito, where recent social media posts suggest a disconnect between modest progress and the hardContinue reading “El Cerrito Leadership: Focus on True Community Progress”
El Cerrito’s Removal from High-Risk Designation: A Milestone, Not a Finish Line
Today marks a significant moment for the City of El Cerrito. The California State Auditor has officially removed our city from its “High Risk” designation, a status reserved for the bottom 5% of cities with severe financial vulnerabilities. This milestone reflects the city’s progress in achieving fiscal stability, improving budget reporting, and implementing some soundContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Removal from High-Risk Designation: A Milestone, Not a Finish Line”
Examining Citizen Participation in El Cerrito City Council Meetings
Public participation is a cornerstone of local government, ensuring transparency and accountability. However, recent practices in El Cerrito City Council meetings raise questions about how well the city’s processes align with its ordinances and the principles of open governance. Consent Calendar and Public Input One key issue lies with the Consent Calendar. This section ofContinue reading “Examining Citizen Participation in El Cerrito City Council Meetings”
El Cerrito Leadership: The Risks of Selective Transparency
In her recent State of El Cerrito address, Mayor Tessa Rudnick touted the city’s “large fund balance” as a sign of strong fiscal management. However, this narrative failed to acknowledge a critical detail: most of this fund balance is restricted, earmarked for specific uses, and unavailable to address broader community needs. Moreover, the city hasContinue reading “El Cerrito Leadership: The Risks of Selective Transparency”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 