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”
Category Archives: State Audit
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”
Concerns Over El Cerrito’s Library Tax Proposal
An Editorial Tuesday night’s City Council meeting on the proposed Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) library tax initiative felt less like civic deliberation and more like a three-ring circus. Council members appeared unfamiliar with the very Citizens’ Initiative before them. Initiative organizers spoke confidently while glossing over foundational gaps. City staff filled airtime with conceptual slides. AndContinue reading “Concerns Over El Cerrito’s Library Tax Proposal”
Why Upfront Library Financing Raises Concerns in El Cerrito
City Council supporters and library-initiative advocates have repeatedly said there is no handout to the developer—that the developer would simply add parking or housing to the El Cerrito Plaza project. If that’s true, an obvious question follows: Why is the library initiative structured as a parcel tax that allows the City to deliver roughly $30Continue reading “Why Upfront Library Financing Raises Concerns in El Cerrito”
Nearly 30% of El Cerrito’s Operating Budget Goes to Pensions — And That’s Why They’re Pushing Another Forever Tax
El Cerrito residents are being asked to approve another permanent tax — again. This time it’s wrapped in the language of libraries and community investment. But the real driver isn’t a building. It’s a budget that is being steadily consumed by pension costs, City leadership has failed to confront. El Cerrito residents are being toldContinue reading “Nearly 30% of El Cerrito’s Operating Budget Goes to Pensions — And That’s Why They’re Pushing Another Forever Tax”
Napoleon Is Always Right
Tomorrow, January 20, the City Council will accept certification of the Citizens Initiative Petition for the El Cerrito Library Initiative and, in the same meeting, present a Library Facility Update. That alone should give residents pause. As you’re pausing, consider this: None of those discussions change the core reality. This initiative creates a permanent parcelContinue reading “Napoleon Is Always Right”
Plaza Station Library Estimate Jumps to $37 Million — And the Tax Risk Just Went Up
Only after meaningful opposition emerged did El Cerrito finally release updated cost estimates for a new library. Now that the numbers are public, the headline is unmistakable: The Plaza Station Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) library is now estimated to cost $37 million. That figure, provided by consultant Griffin Structures, will be presented to the City CouncilContinue reading “Plaza Station Library Estimate Jumps to $37 Million — And the Tax Risk Just Went Up”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 