One of the most troubling patterns in El Cerrito’s governance is how little concrete information is shared before voters are asked to approve new taxes — only for detailed plans to surface after the initiative passes, when residents no longer have meaningful leverage. The proposed library tax measure is a prime example. Parking Details: Selective,Continue reading “El Cerrito’s Library Plan: Vague Before the Vote, Decided After”
Category Archives: Plan
Libraries are good. This plan isn’t.
El Cerrito deserves a great library—but not at the wrong price. The City’s plan locks residents into $75M+ in new taxes for a ground-floor space in a BART housing project that the City won’t even own. We need a better plan—one that gives El Cerrito a true library, not just another forever tax. 👉 IfContinue reading “Libraries are good. This plan isn’t.”
A History of Broken Promises and Misplaced Priorities
Thank you to the neighbors and community members who continue raising essential questions about how our city spends taxpayer money. It’s not just about one issue—it’s about a decades-long pattern of financial decisions that don’t align with the promises made to voters. Remember Measure D? In 2008, El Cerrito voters approved a 30-year bond (MeasureContinue reading “A History of Broken Promises and Misplaced Priorities”
El Cerrito’s Financial Reckoning: A Call for Long-Term Responsibility
A recent public comment submitted by a concerned El Cerrito resident—featured on page 735 of the June 3, 2025, City Council agenda packet—highlights urgent and deeply troubling issues regarding the city’s financial practices. The letter, written by Janos Szlatenyi, outlines not only a critique of the city’s current fiscal approach but also a clear warning:Continue reading “El Cerrito’s Financial Reckoning: A Call for Long-Term Responsibility”
🌐 One Rule for the City Manager, Another for Everyone Else 🌐
In El Cerrito, we see a troubling example of how power can become concentrated in the hands of a few—an oligarchy. When decisions are made behind closed doors, transparency is ignored, and public input is dismissed, it’s the residents who suffer. The council has allowed city leadership to repeatedly ignore public engagement, preferring decisions madeContinue reading “🌐 One Rule for the City Manager, Another for Everyone Else 🌐”
Is El Cerrito Spending Smart—or Just Spending More?
With just 25,000 residents, El Cerrito isn’t the largest city in the Bay Area, but its spending footprint rivals those of much larger communities. For fiscal year 2023–24, El Cerrito’s General Fund expenditures totaled $48.4 million, with $13.5 million allocated to the Police Department and $14.4 million to Fire Services. At first glance, these numbersContinue reading “Is El Cerrito Spending Smart—or Just Spending More?”
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 Budget: Not as Balanced as It Seems
We told you in April. And now you see for yourselves The City of El Cerrito is preparing to adopt its Fiscal Year 2025–2026 budget. On paper, it’s being presented as “balanced.” But longtime residents and close watchers of the city’s finances know better: this isn’t new, and it certainly isn’t sustainable. In recent years,Continue reading “El Cerrito’s Budget: Not as Balanced as It Seems”
El Cerrito City Council Votes to Deplete Reserves—Again
In a troubling echo of past financial mismanagement, the El Cerrito City Council recently voted 4-1 (with Councilmember Ktsanes dissenting) to withdraw $1 million from city reserves, leaving just $11 in unrestricted reserves. This is the same reckless budgeting approach that previously led to El Cerrito’s going concern warning, high-risk designation, and a dismal BBB-Continue reading “El Cerrito City Council Votes to Deplete Reserves—Again”
Understanding El Cerrito’s Check Register Limitations – microblog
The City of El Cerrito recently released its monthly disbursement and check register. While such reports might seem like a step toward transparency, they offer little insight into the city’s financial health. A check register is merely a list of payments made within a specific time frame, without providing any context about the overall budget,Continue reading “Understanding El Cerrito’s Check Register Limitations – microblog”
Karen Pinkos’ Contract Extension: Political Risks Examined
El Cerrito’s City Manager, Karen Pinkos, was recently granted a five-year contract extension despite the city’s ongoing financial struggles, declining services, and growing public dissatisfaction. While this decision might appear to endorse her leadership, it was not driven by confidence. Instead, the move reflects the previous City Council’s political calculation, whose political futures are tightlyContinue reading “Karen Pinkos’ Contract Extension: Political Risks Examined”
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”
El Cerrito’s Budget Crisis: A Call for Financial Leadership
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”
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”
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 Priorities: Legal Fees and Polling Over Community Needs?
Between December 2023 and March 2024, El Cerrito spent over $186,000 of taxpayer money on legal fees with the firm Meyers Nave, alongside approxy $40,000 on polling services from Godbe Research. These expenditures are tied to the City’s push for a new library project, a venture that has raised serious concerns among residents. What’s evenContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Priorities: Legal Fees and Polling Over Community Needs?”
El Cerrito Council Election: Ktsanes Leads Helion, Paving the Way Toward Fiscal Responsibility
As the latest election results roll in, it’s clear that El Cerrito is on the cusp of a significant shift in its City Council. With current vote tallies, Ktsanes leads Helion, signaling that residents are ready to move toward a more financially responsible future. In an area where community engagement and fiscal stewardship have beenContinue reading “El Cerrito Council Election: Ktsanes Leads Helion, Paving the Way Toward Fiscal Responsibility”
Why Has El Cerrito Invested So Much in Polling and Legal Firms for the Library Project?
In recent months, El Cerrito has ramped up efforts to move forward with a new library project, spending over $186,000 in legal fees and significant amounts on polling residents. The City has long neglected the library, offering limited hours and resources, so why the sudden urgency to push through a new, costly project? The likelyContinue reading “Why Has El Cerrito Invested So Much in Polling and Legal Firms for the Library Project?”
The Cost of Overstaffing: How El Cerrito’s Bloated Payroll is Draining Public Resources
In a startling comparison between two neighboring cities, El Cerrito and Hercules, we find an alarming disparity that should concern every resident and taxpayer in El Cerrito. Both cities cover roughly four square miles and serve similar populations, yet El Cerrito’s staff size is nearly twice that of Hercules. This bloated staff not only burdensContinue reading “The Cost of Overstaffing: How El Cerrito’s Bloated Payroll is Draining Public Resources”
The Purpose of El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG): Informing, Empowering, and Uniting Residents
In a city like El Cerrito, staying informed about local government actions is key to ensuring transparency and accountability. The El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) is dedicated to keeping residents up to date on financial and civic matters that directly impact their community. Unlike divisive groups, ECCRG’s mission is to provide clear, actionableContinue reading “The Purpose of El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG): Informing, Empowering, and Uniting Residents”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 