It turns out that the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) did, in fact, award the City of El Cerrito with a budget award. But before we break out the confetti, it’s important to understand what this award actually measures—and what it doesn’t. The GFOA budget award, despite its name, isn’t actually a “budget award” inContinue reading “El Cerrito’s GFOA Budget Award: A Hollow Victory for a City in Financial Turmoil”
Tag Archives: balanced budget
El Cerrito’s Financial Stability: Smoke and Mirrors?
The City of El Cerrito recently issued a press release announcing that it has received a Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) budget award. Yet, a quick search on the GFOA website reveals that El Cerrito is not listed as a recipient. This absence raises a serious question: Is the city misleading residents about its financialContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Financial Stability: Smoke and Mirrors?”
El Cerrito’s Financial Mismanagement: A Legacy of Deficits, Missed Promises, and Depleted Reserves
El Cerrito has faced budget deficits in 18 of the last 21 years. Since 2003, the city has been plagued by financial shortfalls, repeatedly dipping into emergency reserves and relying on short-term loans, known as “TRANS” (Tax Revenue Anticipation Notes), to stay afloat. By 2017, the reserves were fully depleted, leaving the city with noContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Financial Mismanagement: A Legacy of Deficits, Missed Promises, and Depleted Reserves”
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?”
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”
El Cerrito’s Troubling Financial Journey: A Timeline of Decline and Efforts for Recovery
In the past decade, El Cerrito has experienced a tumultuous financial journey, marked by repeated warnings from the State, declining credit ratings, and a high risk of bankruptcy. This blog will outline the significant events that have shaped the city’s fiscal landscape, highlighting the key figures and decisions involved. Early Warnings and Declining Ratings DecemberContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Troubling Financial Journey: A Timeline of Decline and Efforts for Recovery”
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?”
Neighboring Cities’ Approach to Free Speech and Open Government: A Stark Contrast to El Cerrito
This past Sunday at the Solano Stroll, a resident of El Cerrito had the chance to speak with candidates running for office in Berkeley and Albany about their positions on open government, transparency, and free speech. Based on their responses, it seems that supporters of open government would feel much more comfortable in these neighboringContinue reading “Neighboring Cities’ Approach to Free Speech and Open Government: A Stark Contrast to 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 Need for Courageous Leadership in El Cerrito City Council
In recent years, El Cerrito’s City Council has faced numerous challenges, particularly when it comes to the city’s finances. Yet, despite the gravity of these issues, we continue to see a troubling pattern in council meetings: the 5-0 vote. Time and again, council members unanimously support decisions that, to many, seem fundamentally flawed—especially when itContinue reading “The Need for Courageous Leadership in El Cerrito City Council”
The Endorsement Game: Why El Cerrito Deserves Better Than the Status Quo
Greg Lyman’s tenure on the El Cerrito City Council during the economic downturn of 2008 which led to the financial crisis that nearly bankrupted our city between 2012 and 2020 should be a stark reminder of the consequences of poor leadership. Despite these historical failures, it’s more than disappointing—it’s outright irresponsible—that Greg Lyman continues toContinue reading “The Endorsement Game: Why El Cerrito Deserves Better Than the Status Quo”
The Disappearing Act: El Cerrito’s Unclear Capital Improvement Plan
When it comes to planning for the future, one would expect a city to have a clear and coherent capital improvement plan, especially for major infrastructure projects. Unfortunately, the reality in El Cerrito is far from ideal. Around 2010, budget documents pointed to three significant projects: a new senior center, a new library, and aContinue reading “The Disappearing Act: El Cerrito’s Unclear Capital Improvement Plan”
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 City Council: A Look at the Candidates for the 2024 Election
As we approach the 2024 election, El Cerrito’s City Council race is heating up. With two current council members—Paul Fadelli and Tessa Rudnick—not running for re-election, the landscape is set to change. This blog provides a brief overview of the candidates on the ballot and what their election could mean for the future of ElContinue reading “El Cerrito City Council: A Look at the Candidates for the 2024 Election”
El Cerrito Fiscal Management: Addressing Concerns from State Auditor’s Report
In a letter dated March 2024, the City of El Cerrito claims it has addressed all recommendations from the California State Auditor’s Report (Report No. 2020-803) in 2021 and has requested removal from the Local High-Risk Program. However, a deeper look into the city’s letter to the State Auditor and the progress report reveals severalContinue reading “El Cerrito Fiscal Management: Addressing Concerns from State Auditor’s Report”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 