On Saturday evening an El Cerrito resident posted a Vote Yes advertisement on NextDoor promoting the library tax. When community members began asking reasonable questions—about costs, long-term impacts, and accountability—the response wasn’t engagement. It was restriction. Comments were immediately closed. No further discussion was allowed. And prior comments were erased. The post stayed up. TheContinue reading “When Questions Get Shut Down, It Tells You Something”
Category Archives: State Audit
Who Profits from the Library Tax? Taxpayer Concerns Explained
Editorial The February 19 special meeting was presented as a chance to explain the details of the proposed library initiative. But let’s be clear: this is not simply about a library. This is about a tax. It is about creating a permanent revenue stream so the City can immediately issue approximately $37 million in bondsContinue reading “Who Profits from the Library Tax? Taxpayer Concerns Explained”
From $157,000 to Nearly $800,000: Why Trust Is Fracturing in El Cerrito
Residents are not confused. They are reading. On page 24 of the City’s own impact report, the current library’s annual operating cost is listed at $157,615. On the same page, the report acknowledges that operating and maintenance costs could reach $797,000 annually for the El Cerrito Plaza library — a more than 400% increase. AgendaContinue reading “From $157,000 to Nearly $800,000: Why Trust Is Fracturing in El Cerrito”
Understanding El Cerrito’s Midyear Budget Dilemma
Pages 37–43 of yesterday’s City Council agenda packet, which contain the staff report for the Midyear Budget Update, should give every El Cerrito resident pause. Together with the accompanying budget presentation, they show a city that is increasingly relying on reserves to cover routine expenses, allowing costs to grow faster than revenues, and drifting towardContinue reading “Understanding El Cerrito’s Midyear Budget Dilemma”
Seven Differences. One Bad Deal.
A concerned neighbor created this Library Tax Comparison after learning that the El Cerrito Library Tax language was modeled on San Rafael’s Measure P. They decided to put the two initiatives side by side. What they found is sobering. Seven critical differences — and in every case, El Cerrito residents get the worse deal. •Continue reading “Seven Differences. One Bad Deal.”
El Cerrito’s $2.3M Taxpayer Loss
On the agenda for the February 17, 2026 City Council Meeting — Agenda Item 8.A, tomorrow Tuesday Most people will never notice this item on the City Council agenda. It sounds routine. A technical “true-up.”An “accounting adjustment.”A request to close out old accounts. It doesn’t sound controversial.It doesn’t sound urgent.It doesn’t sound expensive. But buriedContinue reading “El Cerrito’s $2.3M Taxpayer Loss”
El Cerrito’s 17¢ Story Doesn’t Add Up
EC Library: They’re Asking You to Pay $340/Year — But the Math Says $860 Influence by social media posts and comments For months, voters were told a simple, digestible number: 17 cents per square foot.A 2,000-square-foot home = $340 per year. It sounded responsible. But critical financial information was not disclosed. At the February 3rdContinue reading “El Cerrito’s 17¢ Story Doesn’t Add Up”
The Truth Behind El Cerrito’s Library Campaign Promises
The campaign for a new library in El Cerrito now has a slick website and a rebrand at https://www.anewelcerritolibrary.com/ It promises a modern space with more computers, community areas, expanded programming, and new services — all things most of us genuinely value.But building a new website and putting a fresh coat of paint on aContinue reading “The Truth Behind El Cerrito’s Library Campaign Promises”
The City Manager, the Loopholes, and the Politics Behind Another Tax
If there were an Olympic event for exploiting loopholes, our City Manager would be bringing home gold. Over and over again, residents are told that this tax or that funding source is for a specific purpose. We are assured the money is restricted, safeguarded, and protected from misuse. And yet—time and again—the funds end upContinue reading “The City Manager, the Loopholes, and the Politics Behind Another Tax”
Why Taxes Are Stacking Against El Cerrito Residents
Shaped by public discussion and social media analysis from concerned residents across the community. If this feels familiar, it should. In 2016, El Cerrito voters rejected a library tax after the city failed to identify a location, and costs rose sharply just before the vote. Voters said no—not because they don’t value libraries, but becauseContinue reading “Why Taxes Are Stacking Against El Cerrito Residents”
The Cost of Ignoring Grant Funding in El Cerrito
Residents of El Cerrito deserve honesty—especially when it comes to millions of dollars and long-term tax burdens. The City Manager gives shifting reasons for not applying for state library grants. -First, we were told the City was understaffed.-Then, that staff didn’t know how to apply.-Then, that El Cerrito lacked matching funds. None of these explanationsContinue reading “The Cost of Ignoring Grant Funding in El Cerrito”
El Cerrito Library Proposal: The Case for Right-Sizing
El Cerrito voters are being asked to approve a June ballot measure that would fund a 20,000-square-foot library with a price tag that is extraordinarily high for a city of this size—an assumption rooted in outdated usage patterns rather than current reality. Library foot traffic has declined structurally, not temporarily, as residents increasingly rely onContinue reading “El Cerrito Library Proposal: The Case for Right-Sizing”
$350,000 AV Upgrade: City Council Transparency Questions
As of today, February 4, El Cerrito’s City Council Chambers are closed for an Audio-Visual upgrade project that will keep the city’s primary public meeting space unavailable through March 24. For nearly seven weeks, most City Council, Board, Commission, and Committee meetings will be relocated to Hana Gardens. Residents are being advised to “check theContinue reading “$350,000 AV Upgrade: City Council Transparency Questions”
How El Cerrito’s Payroll Is Impacting Future Taxes
El Cerrito’s $700,000 Employees: What Transparent California Reveals Influenced by social media posts of concerned citizens Have you wondered why city officials say El Cerrito needs higher taxes? Before voters are asked to approve a permanent new parcel tax, it’s worth examining publicly available compensation data to see how city dollars are already being spent.Continue reading “How El Cerrito’s Payroll Is Impacting Future Taxes”
Stolen Yard Signs and Selective Enforcement in El Cerrito
Over the past month, multiple El Cerrito residents have reported that yard signs opposing the El Cerrito parcel tax have been taken—quietly removed, without notice, and without explanation. Most recently, a sign near the curb was removed, while another on the same property—closer to the house—remained untouched. That inconsistency matters. Most residents understand the City’sContinue reading “Stolen Yard Signs and Selective Enforcement in El Cerrito”
El Cerrito’s Missing Generation — And Why Young People Aren’t Staying
EDITORIAL El Cerrito is a community filled with history, character, and long-time residents who care deeply about this city. But if we step back and look at our demographics, one trend stands out above all others: El Cerrito is getting older, and young people are not staying. According to recent Census data, our median ageContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Missing Generation — And Why Young People Aren’t Staying”
Parcel Tax Legitimacy: El Cerrito Residents Speak Out
Shaped by expressions of Concerned El Cerrito Residents More and more residents are speaking out against this initiative. Like many El Cerrito residents, we value our library and believe the community deserves a modern, welcoming facility. Supporting a new library, however, does not require blind acceptance of a deeply flawed financing plan and a processContinue reading “Parcel Tax Legitimacy: El Cerrito Residents Speak Out”
When Cities Go Bankrupt: The Warning Signs Are Not a Mystery
Municipal bankruptcy does not happen overnight. Cities do not wake up one morning and discover they are insolvent. Bankruptcy is the end of a long sequence of ignored warning signs—patterns that repeat themselves with remarkable consistency. California offers clear case studies. Vallejo filed for bankruptcy in 2008. San Bernardino followed in 2012—different cities, different politicalContinue reading “When Cities Go Bankrupt: The Warning Signs Are Not a Mystery”
Unequal Enforcement at El Cerrito City Meetings: A Call for Change
At the most recent El Cerrito City Council meeting, the City Clerk clearly stated the rules governing public comment: • Items not on the agenda are to be addressed at the beginning of the meeting during general public comment• Agenda items are to be discussed only when they appear on the agenda These rules areContinue reading “Unequal Enforcement at El Cerrito City Meetings: A Call for Change”
Understanding Library Financing Risks
Supporters of the library initiative often focus on the size of the proposed building—a 20,000-square-foot library—and argue that El Cerrito simply needs something bigger and more modern. But square footage alone does not determine cost. Financing does.And financing magnifies every unanswered question. When voters are asked to approve a parcel tax that allows the CityContinue reading “Understanding Library Financing Risks”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 