A concerned citizen emailed us: After paying what feels like the king’s ransom to live in El Cerrito. Again. And every time I settle my tax bill, We are left asking: what exactly are we getting for it? For years now, El Cerrito has ranked among the highest-taxed small cities in the Bay Area. WhileContinue reading “Just Finished Paying the King’s Ransom — El Cerrito’s Taxes Are Criminal”
Category Archives: State Audit
Why El Cerrito Must Go Beyond Minimum Pension Payments
At the most recent City Council meeting, the City Manager noted—accurately—that El Cerrito has never missed a CalPERS payment. But what went unmentioned is equally important: the State Auditor criticized the city for only making the minimum required payments. Paying the minimum might check a box, but it doesn’t reflect sound fiscal management. CalPERS providesContinue reading “Why El Cerrito Must Go Beyond Minimum Pension Payments”
El Cerrito’s 2025–26 Budget Study: Key Highlights & Risks
On April 15, 2025, the El Cerrito City Council held a budget study session to review the preliminary Fiscal Year (FY) 2025–2026 budget. Budget Manager Claire Coleman presented the budget remotely via teleconference. Unfortunately, significant audio issues marred her presentation, making it difficult for the Council and the public to follow along clearly. Despite theseContinue reading “El Cerrito’s 2025–26 Budget Study: Key Highlights & Risks”
El Cerrito’s Taxpayer Funded Luncheon: A Call for Fiscal Responsibility
In a city like El Cerrito, where residents are continually asked to support tax increases and where reserves barely exceed minimum recommended levels, fiscal responsibility shouldn’t be a suggestion; it should be a standard. But recent actions suggest otherwise. On December 17, 2024, the City Manager used a taxpayer-funded credit card to pay $372.26 forContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Taxpayer Funded Luncheon: A Call for Fiscal Responsibility”
When “Public” Doesn’t Mean Accessible: The Reality of Public Information Requests
Public information requests are supposed to be a cornerstone of transparency—giving residents access to records that show how cities operate, spend taxpayer dollars, and make decisions that affect our daily lives. In theory, these laws empower citizens to hold their local government accountable. But in practice, the process often feels like anything but open. AllContinue reading “When “Public” Doesn’t Mean Accessible: The Reality of Public Information Requests”
MicroBlog: A Cup of Water on a House Fire – El Cerrito’s Misguided Pension Strategy
El Cerrito has a pension problem that’s been compounding for years. Instead of meeting it head-on, the city has continued to apply minor fixes to a rapidly growing financial burden. One glaring example? The decision to open a Section 115 Trust fund with just $1 million, despite the city’s economic advisors recommending at least $5Continue reading “MicroBlog: A Cup of Water on a House Fire – El Cerrito’s Misguided Pension Strategy”
A Bike Lane at What Cost? Richmond Street Residents Speak Out
The City of El Cerrito is considering a proposal to add a dedicated bike lane on Richmond Street — a move that would eliminate residential parking on one side of the street and significantly impact the daily lives of long-term residents. While the city promotes the project as a step toward equity, sustainability, and saferContinue reading “A Bike Lane at What Cost? Richmond Street Residents Speak Out”
Microblog: What Should a City Manager Be Accountable For?
A City Manager’s job is to implement the vision of the City Council—but also to provide clear, measurable results that benefit residents. In a city our size, results should be visible. Here are a few areas where metrics matter: • Infrastructure – Have road conditions, lighting, and city facilities improved over the past five years?Continue reading “Microblog: What Should a City Manager Be Accountable For?”
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’s Credit Rating: A Story of Fiscal Decline
When El Cerrito’s current city manager assumed office, the city held an AA credit rating, a mark of financial stability and prudent management. Fast-forward to today, and the city is hanging on to a BBB rating, a stark drop that raises serious concerns about financial governance and the city’s economic future. This decline reflects poorly onContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Credit Rating: A Story of Fiscal Decline”
Bridging the Gap Between Symbolism and Substance
El Cerrito has often been lauded for its progressive initiatives and gestures championing inclusivity and community engagement. However, a closer examination reveals a recurring pattern: while the city excels in presenting an image of progressiveness, tangible outcomes and services often fall short of promises. This disconnect between appearance and reality raises concerns about the city’sContinue reading “Bridging the Gap Between Symbolism and Substance”
The Brown Act: What El Cerrito Residents Should Know About Public Comment
If you’ve ever attended a City Council meeting in El Cerrito, you’ve likely heard the City Clerk say something like, “The Council cannot respond to public comment.” It sounds final, almost like it’s against the law for elected officials to engage. But here’s the truth: there’s no law in the Brown Act that prohibits theContinue reading “The Brown Act: What El Cerrito Residents Should Know About Public Comment”
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”
Motivations Behind Pursuing Local Government Roles:
Originally published on April 5, 2024 | Updated March 2025 Local government positions should be about service—improving communities, making informed policy decisions, and ensuring fiscal responsibility. However, as we have seen in El Cerrito, motivations for seeking office can sometimes stray far from these principles. Since our original post in April 2024, the El CerritoContinue reading “Motivations Behind Pursuing Local Government Roles:”
El Cerrito Is Losing Businesses
McBears – the latest victim El Cerrito has recently witnessed several prominent business closures, raising alarm about the city’s economic climate. Barnes & Noble, a fixture at El Cerrito Plaza for over 20 years, shut its doors in January 2025, leaving 22 employees without jobs. Company officials said they “didn’t have the opportunity to renewContinue reading “El Cerrito Is Losing Businesses”
Sanctuary Status Makes Headlines—And So Should El Cerrito’s Other Real Issues
El Cerrito is making headlines for considering sanctuary status for LGBTQ+ individuals fleeing intolerance. It’s a compassionate gesture—and one that clearly reflects City Council’s values. But let’s be clear: this kind of bold, front-page visibility is exactly what we should be demanding for our city’s pressing issues. When will high taxes—some of the steepest inContinue reading “Sanctuary Status Makes Headlines—And So Should El Cerrito’s Other Real Issues”
El Cerrito’s Path Forward: A Comprehensive General Plan Update
Microblog The City of El Cerrito’s General Plan, adopted in 1999, serves as the foundational policy document guiding decisions related to development, growth, infrastructure, and environmental management. Over the years, the city has undertaken updates to specific elements of the General Plan, such as the Housing Element, to comply with state mandates and address immediateContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Path Forward: A Comprehensive General Plan Update”
El Cerrito’s Richmond Street Cost Overruns
The upcoming El Cerrito City Council meeting has yet another significant financial issue—the cost overruns for the Richmond Street project—has been tucked away on the consent calendar. Like the $400,000 del Norte overrun, this placement is troubling but, unfortunately, not surprising. Placing important financial matters on the consent calendar has become a tradition in ElContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Richmond Street Cost Overruns”
March 18th City Council Meeting: A Closer Look at Consent Calendar Item E
The City of El Cerrito, like many municipalities, manages a complex budget with competing priorities. While some items seem routine, a closer look often reveals significant financial decisions that deserve public scrutiny. One such item on the recent consent calendar—Item E—raises important questions about fiscal responsibility and transparency. Typically, consent calendar items cover routine mattersContinue reading “March 18th City Council Meeting: A Closer Look at Consent Calendar Item E”
What Personnel Issues Might a City Address with $60,000 in Legal Fees?
On Tuesday March 4th, El Cerrito staff returned to the city council with a request to allocate an additional $60,000 to the Human Resources budget for legal fees. While the city has already spent over half a million dollars on a sexual harassment case, the El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government anticipates another legal issue—perhapsContinue reading “What Personnel Issues Might a City Address with $60,000 in Legal Fees?”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 