More on governance. Read On: The City of El Cerrito recently embarked on a classification and compensation study, ostensibly to address the challenge of attracting qualified candidates to fill vacant positions. They assert that low salaries are the primary reason for their recruitment struggles. But City Leadership moved to the 51st State of Denial andContinue reading “Uncovering the Real Issues: El Cerrito’s Classification and Compensation Study”
Category Archives: Financial Mismanagement
California State Auditor’s Assessment Reveals Inadequate Cost-Cutting Measures in Ongoing Expenses
El Cerrito, California, informed the State Auditor that it planned to implement a fiscal recovery plan by summer 2021, including elements from the Auditor’s report. However, the city’s plans failed to effectively reduce ongoing costs. Their corrective action plan lacks a focused strategy for spending cuts, even though their five-year forecast acknowledges the need forContinue reading “California State Auditor’s Assessment Reveals Inadequate Cost-Cutting Measures in Ongoing Expenses”
Rising Tide of Pension Costs: El Cerrito’s Escalating Financial Challenge
El Cerrito’s financial struggles are largely due to its escalating pension debt, linked to the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS). This debt saw a 67% increase from fiscal year 2014-15 to 2019-20, reaching $65.8 million by June 2020 and soaring to $85 million by June 2023. High pension liabilities mean rising costs over time,Continue reading “Rising Tide of Pension Costs: El Cerrito’s Escalating Financial Challenge”
El Cerrito: The Challenge of Accessing Information
El Cerrito: The Challenge of Accessing Public Information- Microblog The El Cerrito Citizens for Responsible Government (ECCRG) recently sought specific details from the city regarding the number of right-to-information requests filed in 2023, along with their outcomes and reasons for any refusals. It’s important to note that while the city did provide details about whoContinue reading “El Cerrito: The Challenge of Accessing Information”
Governance Matters: Expenses Continue to Outpace Revenue as Pension Liability Climbs – Microblog
In March 2023, El Cerrito unveiled its latest plan for financial improvement in response to a severe audit from the California State Auditor in 2021. This audit, part of a program targeting high-risk local governments, shed light on El Cerrito’s precarious financial state and tendency towards excessive expenditure. One key factor in the city’s revenueContinue reading “Governance Matters: Expenses Continue to Outpace Revenue as Pension Liability Climbs – Microblog”
State Auditor’s RoadMap: The Path to Success
The City of El Cerrito, while initially agreeing with some of the State Auditor’s recommendations, has shown a lack of commitment in implementing these suggestions, particularly in managing its financial struggles. The city’s budgets have consistently shown increased expenditures without justifying the rises, and its budget policy lacks clear procedures for monitoring departmental spending. ThisContinue reading “State Auditor’s RoadMap: The Path to Success”
Assessing Safety and Spending: A Tale of Two West Contra Costa Cities
The State Auditor’s report on page 25 highlights El Cerrito’s distinction of having the largest police staff per capita in the region, and potentially in California. Despite this, having more police officers doesn’t automatically translate to increased safety. El Cerrito faces the dual challenge of rising staffing costs and an escalating crime rate. El Cerrito’sContinue reading “Assessing Safety and Spending: A Tale of Two West Contra Costa Cities”
Seeking Sustainable Solutions for Senior Center and Emergency Services + Revenue- Microblog
El Cerrito has faced significant financial challenges in maintaining its recreation services, notably its swim center and senior programs, which have consistently incurred costs far exceeding their generated revenue. This discrepancy led the city to subsidize these programs from its general fund, missing out on potential revenue streams. The city’s decision to close its seniorContinue reading “Seeking Sustainable Solutions for Senior Center and Emergency Services + Revenue- Microblog”
Exploring Untapped Revenue Potential in El Cerrito Volume 2
El Cerrito continues struggling to align expenses with revenue, causing great concern to many residents. El Cerrito has seen some strides in augmenting its revenue streams, primarily through increased sales tax collections from local businesses. Recent discussions, including a NextDoor post highlighting the proliferation of various establishments like massage parlors, liquor stores, a store specializingContinue reading “Exploring Untapped Revenue Potential in El Cerrito Volume 2”
Revenue Opportunities – Case Study
Lancaster, a town in the Antelope Valley north of Los Angeles, underwent significant changes a decade ago, particularly on Lancaster Boulevard, its main commercial artery. The street was transformed by widening the sidewalks, planting numerous trees, and reducing the road from five lanes to two for vehicles. This renovation attracted a surge in visitors andContinue reading “Revenue Opportunities – Case Study”
City’s State of Affairs Address: Citizens Seek Authenticity Amidst Reality
In Tuesday’s annual State of the City address, outgoing El Cerrito Mayor Lisa Motoyama delivered a message of optimism and progress for our beloved city. While the tone was cheerful, it’s essential to consider the broader context and some missed points that are crucial for a complete understanding of El Cerrito’s current situation. Her optimisticContinue reading “City’s State of Affairs Address: Citizens Seek Authenticity Amidst Reality”
El Cerrito’s Stalled Progress: How Council Inaction Harms Community and Staff
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, and City Manager, carries the responsibility for overseeing both the operational and financial performance of El Cerrito. It is essential to note that the City Manager is accountable to the City Council.Continue reading “El Cerrito’s Stalled Progress: How Council Inaction Harms Community and Staff”
Accountability and Transparency Must Be More Than Just Buzzwords
After 12 years as Assistant City Manager, Karen Pinkos became City Manager on January 1, 2019. Since then, several disturbing events have happened under her watch, yet she acknowledges none, nor has she addressed these significant and catastrophic issues. As the City Manager conducts business as usual, she has two patented phrases. One of herContinue reading “Accountability and Transparency Must Be More Than Just Buzzwords”
Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result
City Leadership: It’s not Us, It’s You. You just don’t understand. Citizens: Most residents want a new and improved library. We support the City’s efforts, but clearly not at any cost. In 2016, the initial attempt to secure a library bond in El Cerrito faced a resounding rejection from the Citizens. The bond measure crumbled dueContinue reading “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result”
A Critical Look at El Cerrito’s City Management: Where Are the Funds Going? Read on:
In previous blogs, we delved further into the intriguing world of governance, or more pointedly, the absence thereof. To date, several people have chimed in to say that all candidates live in El Cerrito. But the blog’s crux is governance, and governance is the epicenter of El Cerrito’s woes. In this case: No one hasContinue reading “A Critical Look at El Cerrito’s City Management: Where Are the Funds Going? Read on:”
When a city goes bankrupt:Vallejo case study
As we continue toward the new year, it’s crucial to revisit a topic of utmost importance – the city’s financial health and the looming threat of increased taxes. Originally published in January 2021, this blog post is being brought back to spotlight the ongoing concerns surrounding our city’s fiscal mismanagement. Despite previous warnings, there isContinue reading “When a city goes bankrupt:Vallejo case study”
El Cerrito as Charter City – Chaos
The City of El Cerrito was originally incorporated as a General Law City in 1917 and became a Charter City in November 2018. The City is organized as a Council-Manager form of local municipal government. The City Council consists of five members elected at large for four- year, overlapping terms. A California charter city is aContinue reading “El Cerrito as Charter City – Chaos”
Where are the Residency Requirements ?
Understanding the Council-Manager Government: El Cerrito operates under a Council-Manager form of municipal government. This structure involves a five-member City Council, elected at-large for overlapping four-year terms, embodying the legislative responsibilities, while the managerial tasks are overseen by a City Manager. Charter City Status – A Double-Edged Sword: The shift to a Charter City statusContinue reading “Where are the Residency Requirements ?”
Rebuilding Trust: The Key to Advancing El Cerrito’s Library Initiative
The City’s decision to delay the library initiative from the 2024 ballot in favor of public education overlooks a significant opportunity in El Cerrito. Many residents support an improved library, yet surveys reveal a lack of trust in the City’s leadership, a crucial factor for the initiative’s success. To build support, the City must prioritizeContinue reading “Rebuilding Trust: The Key to Advancing El Cerrito’s Library Initiative”
Employee Pension and Benefits
EECRG is rerunning this blog primarily because the unfunded liability of El Cerrito Pension Costs has ballooned to $85 million dollars during the year since this post was written. _______________________________________________ Lost in the din of cheering about the progress of going from the 8th worst-ranked City in California to only the 13th worst (out ofContinue reading “Employee Pension and Benefits”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 