Truth is suppressed, not to protect the country from enemy agents, but to protect the Government of the day against the people. —— Essential, But Not Budgeted: The Cost of Poor Planning in El Cerrito El Cerrito continues to show signs of financial mismanagement—this time by failing to include known, essential expenses in the city’sContinue reading “Doing What They Want and Begging for What They Need”
Category Archives: library
El Cerrito’s Library Initiative: A Costly Gamble with Uncertain Benefits
The City of El Cerrito has proposed a new initiative that could dramatically reshape the city’s financial landscape and impose a significant burden on property owners. This initiative, known as the El Cerrito Library Initiative, seeks to fund the planning, construction, and furnishing of a modern library in El Cerrito. At first glance, the measureContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Library Initiative: A Costly Gamble with Uncertain Benefits”
Case Study: Hercules 2012 Financial Crisis: A City on the Brink of Bankruptcy
Hercules is similar in size and population to El Cerrito. In the early 2010s, the neighboring city of Hercules went through a staggering financial crisis. Costly redevelopment gambles, alleged mismanagement, and the fallout from the Great Recession left Hercules teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. This case study examines how a $38 million real estateContinue reading “Case Study: Hercules 2012 Financial Crisis: A City on the Brink of Bankruptcy”
How Greg Lyman Helped Send El Cerrito into near bankruptcy —And Now Wants a Blank Check for a New Tax
Before residents are asked to sign anything, they deserve the full story. The City of El Cerrito is facing another push for a new tax—this time for a library at the Plaza BART station. But before rushing into another costly project with no clear financial plan, it’s important to remember how we got here—and whoContinue reading “How Greg Lyman Helped Send El Cerrito into near bankruptcy —And Now Wants a Blank Check for a New Tax”
Facing Facts in El Cerrito: The Fiscal Conversation We Deserve
As El Cerrito prepares its FY 2025–2026 budget, city staff are touting a “balanced” financial plan. But residents should take a closer look. Beneath the headlines and hopeful proclamations lies a sobering fiscal reality: We are inching toward more profound structural instability, masked by one-time funding shifts and unsustainable reserve draws. The $4.5 Million AskContinue reading “Facing Facts in El Cerrito: The Fiscal Conversation We Deserve”
El Cerrito’s Library Plan: A Colossal Failure of Fiduciary Duty
The following blog was heavily influenced by a detailed social media post written by a longtime El Cerrito resident. The El Cerrito City Council’s library campaign to move the historic library from a location that the City already owns—and that sits adjacent to El Cerrito’s largest and oldest elementary school—is pathetic. They’re acting like theContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Library Plan: A Colossal Failure of Fiduciary Duty”
El Cerrito: Lower Fire Risk, But Still More FTEs?
A new set of fire hazard maps released by the state paints a concerning picture for many Bay Area cities. Some communities have seen striking increases in their fire risk, with more homes now classified as being in high or very high fire hazard severity zones. But not El Cerrito. According to the updated data,Continue reading “El Cerrito: Lower Fire Risk, But Still More FTEs?”
El Cerrito’s Reserve Fund: A Strong Safety Net or a Leaky Bucket?
The City of El Cerrito plans to dip into its reserves once again, this time pulling another $1.1 million from what it claims is a “strong” reserve fund. What they don’t say is this action reduces unrestricted reserves from $12.4 million to $11.3 million The repeated use of reserves is the exact same practice thatContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Reserve Fund: A Strong Safety Net or a Leaky Bucket?”
El Cerrito Wins CSMFO Budget Award: What Does It Really Mean?
El Cerrito recently received a budget award from the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO), a recognition that may appear to reflect sound financial management. However, it is important to understand what this award actually measures—and more importantly, what it does not. What is the CSMFO Budget Award? The CSMFO budget award is grantedContinue reading “El Cerrito Wins CSMFO Budget Award: What Does It Really Mean?”
El Cerrito Library Campaign Faces Major Setback
The long-debated plan to construct a new library in El Cerrito Plaza has encountered yet another delay, raising concerns about transparency, fiscal responsibility, and the city’s priorities. Shifting Deadlines and Unseen Data In 2023, residents were told that a $300-per-year forever tax was necessary to fund the new library and that the deadline for passingContinue reading “El Cerrito Library Campaign Faces Major Setback”
Understanding El Cerrito’s Special Tax Bond Risks
A concerned citizen recently raised critical points about El Cerrito’s proposed $21 million bond issue for a new library, and these concerns deserve serious attention. Many residents might assume that a financial analysis of the city’s creditworthiness is required for this bond approval—but that’s not the case. Here’s why: The Reality of Special Tax &Continue reading “Understanding El Cerrito’s Special Tax Bond Risks”
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”
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’s Capital Improvement Needs: One-quarter of a Billion Dollars!
El Cerrito is facing an urgent and substantial need for capital improvements, estimated by the state auditor at nearly a quarter of a billion dollars. This staggering figure highlights the breadth of infrastructure needs within the city, encompassing everything from essential repairs to crucial building upgrades. Despite the significance of these unmet capital improvement needs,Continue reading “El Cerrito’s Capital Improvement Needs: One-quarter of a Billion Dollars!”
Decline in El Cerrito Library Foot Traffic and Proposed Parcel Tax
Between FY 2019 and FY 2024, the El Cerrito Library experienced a significant 43% decline in foot traffic. In 2019, the library recorded 171,262 visits, which decreased to 96,798 by 2024—a reduction of 74,464 visits. This trend reflects a broader pattern across the Contra Costa Library system, which saw an overall 31% decline in footContinue reading “Decline in El Cerrito Library Foot Traffic and Proposed Parcel Tax”
El Cerrito’s Housing Project and Community Investments
El Cerrito is at a pivotal moment as the city pursues ambitious projects aimed at addressing housing needs and enhancing public services. A transit-oriented development (TOD) at the El Cerrito Plaza Station was a focal point of discussion during last night’s City Council meeting. Housing Project: Sustainable Living at the Forefront The city’s latest development,Continue reading “El Cerrito’s Housing Project and Community Investments”
Hiding Behind the Brown Act
In El Cerrito, many residents are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of transparency from our city government. It seems that every time we request crucial information—whether about the library project, financial reserves, or decisions made on our behalf—we’re met with the same tired excuses: “releasing this information could harm the public,” or “the documentsContinue reading “Hiding Behind the Brown Act”
Revisiting El Cerrito’s Spending: Time for a New Approach to City Staffing?
In 2020, the El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) demonstrated that El Cerrito’s spending outpaced that of neighboring cities, putting a significant financial burden on its residents. Fast forward to 2023, and likely in 24/25, the city’s expenses remain higher than those of nearby communities, even as neighboring cities have taken steps to manageContinue reading “Revisiting El Cerrito’s Spending: Time for a New Approach to City Staffing?”
Is El Cerrito Building a Library or Something Much Bigger?
The City of El Cerrito has proposed “leasehold improvements” for a new public library. However, recent analyses by concerned citizens and experienced developers suggest that the project’s scope and budget may indicate plans for a multi-story apartment building rather than a standalone library. Key Concerns: El Cerrito Responsible Government Implications for Residents: If the projectContinue reading “Is El Cerrito Building a Library or Something Much Bigger?”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 