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?”
Category Archives: public trust
Accountability on the Agenda: Electing El Cerrito City Council Members Committed to Oversight
With election season here and three out of five City Council seats up for grabs, it’s a critical time for El Cerrito residents to cast their votes for representatives who will rigorously hold the City Manager accountable for her performance. After serving 12 years as Assistant City Manager, Karen Pinkos took over the role ofContinue reading “Accountability on the Agenda: Electing El Cerrito City Council Members Committed to Oversight”
The Truth Behind El Cerrito’s Financial Position: Misleading Reserves Reporting
Both Lisa Motoyama and Karen Pinkos consistently claim that El Cerrito is in a strong financial position. However, they often blur the line between restricted and unrestricted reserves, combining them to paint a rosier picture. What they don’t mention is that approximately $10 million of these reserves are restricted, meaning that they cannot be usedContinue reading “The Truth Behind El Cerrito’s Financial Position: Misleading Reserves Reporting”
The Problem of Splitting Purchase Orders: A Disturbing Practice in El Cerrito’s City Management
In recent years, many El Cerrito residents have grown increasingly concerned about our city’s transparency and fiscal management. One troubling practice that has repeatedly surfaced is the use of “split purchase orders” (POs) by city management to circumvent the approval process. This approach raises serious ethical questions and undermines the checks and balances designed toContinue reading “The Problem of Splitting Purchase Orders: A Disturbing Practice in El Cerrito’s City Management”
The League of Women Voters Forum Highlights Transparency Gaps and Senior Center Needs in El Cerrito
Yesterday’s League of Women Voters forum for the El Cerrito City Council candidates made one thing clear: there is a significant divide in priorities when it comes to the future of our city. Independent candidate William Ktsanes stood out with a strong and heartfelt focus on transparency and addressing the long-overdue need for a dedicatedContinue reading “The League of Women Voters Forum Highlights Transparency Gaps and Senior Center Needs in El Cerrito”
Is Measure R Being Overlooked in El Cerrito?
While reviewing past agendas for the Financial Advisory Board (FAB) meetings, we discovered that Measure R has not been on the agenda for FAB review in several years. This raises questions about the oversight and management of this critical source of funding for our city. Understanding Measure R In November 2014, El Cerrito voters approvedContinue reading “Is Measure R Being Overlooked in El Cerrito?”
Editorial: El Cerrito Isn’t the Center of the Universe
Living in El Cerrito, it’s easy to feel like you’re in a bubble. There’s a prevailing sense that everyone shares the same views on politics, social issues, and how life should be lived. But the reality is that everyone doesn’t see things the same way. El Cerrito, like many small California towns, can become isolatedContinue reading “Editorial: El Cerrito Isn’t the Center of the Universe”
Editorial: Should You Attend the 9/24 El Cerrito Financial Advisory Board Meeting?
If you’ve ever questioned how El Cerrito manages its finances or felt in the dark about important financial decisions, attending the upcoming Financial Advisory Board (FAB) meeting on September 24 might seem like a good idea. But here’s the problem: the lack of transparency at these meetings has become a glaring issue. At the lastContinue reading “Editorial: Should You Attend the 9/24 El Cerrito Financial Advisory Board Meeting?”
The Merits of Moving On: A Strategic Perspective on Long-Term Goals
In the the June budget meeting, the City Manager presented the council with a balanced budget, expressing deep emotion and gratitude toward her finance team. Her voice wavered, almost to the point of tears, as she thanked them for their dedication and hard work. For many, this moment might have seemed like a triumph—a testamentContinue reading “The Merits of Moving On: A Strategic Perspective on Long-Term Goals”
Time for a Change: Why El Cerrito Can’t Afford to Keep This City Manager
Did you know that two years ago, the El Cerrito City Council renewed the City Manager’s contract a full year before it was set to expire? This premature decision not only ignored her ongoing poor performance but also missed a crucial opportunity to bring in new leadership capable of making the tough decisions that ourContinue reading “Time for a Change: Why El Cerrito Can’t Afford to Keep This City Manager”
Vote NO on Tax Measures Without a Sunset: El Cerrito’s Never-Ending Taxation
El Cerrito’s City Council is returning, pleading for more tax revenue from its residents. In 2022, it was the parcel transfer tax. Now, they want to pass Measure G, which means our sales tax will be 10.25%—and make it permanent. Yes, you read that right. Despite the voter mandate to sunset this tax in MarchContinue reading “Vote NO on Tax Measures Without a Sunset: El Cerrito’s Never-Ending Taxation”
El Cerrito Secures $39 Million for Affordable Housing: Is the $300 Forever Tax Necessary?
The City of El Cerrito recently secured $39.1 million in funding to build the first of six affordable housing structures near BART, marking a significant investment in the city’s future. This news, while positive on the surface, raises an important question: Is the proposed $300 forever tax truly necessary? The $39.1 million from the stateContinue reading “El Cerrito Secures $39 Million for Affordable Housing: Is the $300 Forever Tax Necessary?”
Priorities Misaligned: The Unused Potential of the Life in Christ Property
It’s a common refrain these days that there’s “no money” for essential services in El Cerrito, especially when it comes to our senior community. Yet, just this past January, the City made a substantial purchase, paying $1.5 million for the Life in Christ property on San Pablo Avenue. This site is located between the parkingContinue reading “Priorities Misaligned: The Unused Potential of the Life in Christ Property”
Ignoring the Warning Signs
As concerned residents of El Cerrito, it is alarming to witness the city inching once again toward financial insolvency. The federal bailout, which temporarily provided relief by paying off the TRANs loans, did little more than put a band-aid on a festering wound. Despite the state auditor’s clear warnings, the city seems determined to ignoreContinue reading “Ignoring the Warning Signs”
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”
Fiscal Transparency Needed
In her State of the City address on December 19, 2023, Councilmember Lisa Motoyama presented an optimistic picture of El Cerrito’s financial health. Her words, however, warrant closer examination. Lisa has long been recognized as the most fiscally responsible member of our City Council. Her efforts to steer El Cerrito through challenging financial times haveContinue reading “Fiscal Transparency Needed”
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”
Microblog: Will El Cerrito Continue to Support Higher Taxes with Fewer Services?
In a surprising turn of events, the $20 billion Bay Area housing bond proposal has been pulled from the November ballot. The Bay Area Housing Finance Authority made this decision in light of dwindling support for new taxes, according to recent polls. This development raises significant questions for residents of El Cerrito, a city thatContinue reading “Microblog: Will El Cerrito Continue to Support Higher Taxes with Fewer Services?”
Moving the Goal Line: The City’s Ever-Shifting Standards for Financial Stability
In the realm of public finance, the goalposts seem to shift whenever it suits those in power. In El Cerrito, we’ve seen this play out with how the city measures the health of its General Fund reserves. When the City meets the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) guidelines, it’s cause for celebration. But when theContinue reading “Moving the Goal Line: The City’s Ever-Shifting Standards for Financial Stability”
El Cerrito: A City in Fiscal Freefall
El Cerrito, CA – August 13, 2024 – Four years after the State Auditor’s report highlighted the severe financial mismanagement and fiscal irresponsibility plaguing El Cerrito, the City Council remains conspicuously negligent in addressing the crisis. The consequences of their inaction are stark, with the city teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, driven by aContinue reading “El Cerrito: A City in Fiscal Freefall”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 