El Cerrito runs three fire stations, each with at least one fire engine. A standard fire engine has a 15-year lifespan, and one of El Cerrito’s engines has already reached that limit. According to the Fire Chief, it has required significant and costly repairs and should have been replaced years ago. During the June budgetContinue reading “Leadership Accountability in El Cerrito: Beyond Crisis Management”
Category Archives: Fire Department
El Cerrito’s $89M Pension Crisis: Misplaced Blame on CalPERS #3
During the May 20, 2025 presentation to the El Cerrito City Council, NHA Advisors—serving as the city’s financial advisor—essentially blamed CalPERS for El Cerrito’s $89 million Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL), citing underperformance in investment returns. But that explanation doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. Other cities relying on CalPERS are not facing pension liabilities near thisContinue reading “El Cerrito’s $89M Pension Crisis: Misplaced Blame on CalPERS #3”
El Cerrito’s Fire Station Density: A Critical Analysis
Fire protection is one of the most visible and vital services cities provide regarding public safety. But how many fire stations are enough—and at what cost? Let’s examine El Cerrito’s performance in terms of fire station density, risk exposure, and financial sustainability compared to other Contra Costa County cities. More Fire Stations per Square MileContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Fire Station Density: A Critical Analysis”
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?”
The Cost of Public Safety in El Cerrito: Balancing Effectiveness and Fiscal Responsibility
In El Cerrito, our police and fire departments play a critical role in ensuring community safety. From responding to emergencies to taking preventative measures like fire inspections and crime deterrence, their work is essential. However, the cost and effectiveness of staffing these critical services require closer scrutiny, especially given the city’s ongoing financial challenges. TheContinue reading “The Cost of Public Safety in El Cerrito: Balancing Effectiveness and Fiscal Responsibility”
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”
El Cerrito’s Fire Service Staffing: A Costly Miscalculation
El Cerrito stands out among its neighboring cities for its unusually high concentration of fire services relative to its population and geographic size. The California State Auditor previously recommended that El Cerrito conduct a staffing analysis to determine the appropriate staffing levels for each classification. However, nearly four years later, the city has disregarded thisContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Fire Service Staffing: A Costly Miscalculation”
The Looming Pension Crisis: A $98 Million Unfunded Liability
On November 19th, the city council and staff marked the occasion of a $1.3 million contribution to a Section 115 pension investment. Notably, their consultant had advised a minimum contribution of $5 million, but the account was opened with only about 20% of that recommendation. Typically, cities that establish a Section 115 investment account areContinue reading “The Looming Pension Crisis: A $98 Million Unfunded Liability”
Tax Fatigue in El Cerrito: A Never-Ending Cycle?
#ElCerrito #TaxBurden #FiscalAccountability El Cerrito residents are staring down the barrel of a probable $300 “forever” tax measure on the 2025 ballot. Many are skeptical, given the City’s history of reneging on promises made during previous tax campaigns. Already burdened by high taxes, including the Real Property Transfer Tax (RPTT) that hit us when purchasingContinue reading “Tax Fatigue in El Cerrito: A Never-Ending Cycle?”
Hypocrisy Unveiled
In a performance reminiscent of the republican VP candidate’s debate tactics, El Cerrito’s City Manager, Karen Pinkos, proved herself a master at shapeshifting. She pulled out every rhetorical trick in the book to sidestep looming questions during the recent City Council meeting. It didn’t take long for the council to join in to congratulate themselves.Continue reading “Hypocrisy Unveiled”
Examining the City Manager’s Financial Report – What’s the Real Picture?
At the September 17 City Council meeting, the City Manager presented the 4th Quarter General Fund Update, painting a rosy picture of El Cerrito’s financial health. While the report claims fiscal prudence and a surplus in the General Fund, we believe the City Manager’s interpretation of the numbers may be misleading. Misleading Use of “GeneralContinue reading “Examining the City Manager’s Financial Report – What’s the Real Picture?”
El Cerrito’s Need for Transparent Sexual Harassment Policies
Allegations of sexual harassment within the El Cerrito Police Department continue to raise serious concerns about the safety and well-being of employees. Five years ago, former police officer Sarah Perez filed a lawsuit on August 20, 2019, accusing the department of sexual harassment, sex discrimination, and retaliation. Despite the passage of time and the seriousnessContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Need for Transparent Sexual Harassment Policies”
Why El Cerrito Didn’t Earn a GFOA Budget Award
The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Budget Award is considered a benchmark of excellence in public budgeting. Receiving this award signifies that a local government’s budget document is comprehensive and transparent and serves as an effective policy document, financial plan, operations guide, and communication device. GFOA Budget Award Criteria To achieve this prestigious award, aContinue reading “Why El Cerrito Didn’t Earn a GFOA Budget Award”
The Hidden Cost of Loyalty: A Closer Look at El Cerrito’s Leadership
In the heart of our diverse and vibrant community, a troubling trend persists within El Cerrito’s city leadership—a trend that raises questions about loyalty, vested interest, and the real cost to our city’s future. At the helm of this trend is the City Manager, whose ability to cultivate unwavering loyalty from her staff comes atContinue reading “The Hidden Cost of Loyalty: A Closer Look at El Cerrito’s Leadership”
Mismanagement in El Cerrito Leading to “Forever” Tax
The El Cerrito city manager has chosen to drag her feet on the state auditor’s 2021 recommendation to conduct a crucial staffing needs study. Instead of addressing this significant issue, she has announced a slew of other initiatives as priority measures, pushing the study to the back burner. Not so coincidentally, this delay aligns perfectlyContinue reading “Mismanagement in El Cerrito Leading to “Forever” Tax”
A Timeline of Fiscal Turmoil: El Cerrito’s Financial Mismanagement from 2018 to 2024
Tuesday’s FY25/26 budget presentation of the preliminary budget by Claire Coleman marks a significant step forward. The extensive outreach efforts and increased transparency throughout the budgeting process are impressive and commendable, laying a strong foundation for informed decision-making and fiscal responsibility. Claire’s talent is evident, as she overshadowed the Finance Director (who hasn’t presented duringContinue reading “A Timeline of Fiscal Turmoil: El Cerrito’s Financial Mismanagement from 2018 to 2024”
El Cerrito’s Fiscal Future: Citizen Concerns and Council Considerations
A long-time El Cerrito resident attending Tuesday’s City Council Proposed Budget Hearing, shared some concerns. While not an expert in city government or fiscal policy, their interest was piqued when Measure B appeared on the ballot. Desperately desiring a new library, they were disappointed to vote against it after seeing how efficiently nearby cities managedContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Fiscal Future: Citizen Concerns and Council Considerations”
Maximizing Efficiency and Savings – Evaluating Staffing and Span of Control in El Cerrito, California
Welcome to El Cerrito, California – a vibrant community nestled in the East Bay region, home to approximately 25,000 residents. As El Cerrito strives to provide services to its inhabitants, it’s essential to evaluate its operational structure to ensure optimal resource allocation. Recent observations suggest that El Cerrito’s management hierarchy may be disproportionately top-heavy comparedContinue reading “Maximizing Efficiency and Savings – Evaluating Staffing and Span of Control in El Cerrito, California”
El Cerrito Budget Update: Explosive Growth in Spending
The City of El Cerrito has released its FY 2025 budget document, providing a detailed look at the fiscal year 2024 financial data. A quick glance reveals a concerning trend: the city’s spending continues to outpace its revenue, leading to significant deficits. Notably absent from the budget is any mention of how the city plansContinue reading “El Cerrito Budget Update: Explosive Growth in Spending”
The Misguided Motivations Behind Pursuing Local Government Roles: A Closer Look
The journey into local government is often paved with good intentions. At the heart of many decisions to run for local office is a simple, powerful desire to help. This motivation, pure and commendable in its essence, is the driving force behind countless campaigns and initiatives. Yet, the landscape of local governance is rife withContinue reading “The Misguided Motivations Behind Pursuing Local Government Roles: A Closer Look”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 