El Cerrito, California, informed the State Auditor that it planned to implement a fiscal recovery plan by summer 2021, including elements from the Auditor’s report. However, the city’s plans failed to effectively reduce ongoing costs. Their corrective action plan lacks a focused strategy for spending cuts, even though their five-year forecast acknowledges the need forContinue reading “California State Auditor’s Assessment Reveals Inadequate Cost-Cutting Measures in Ongoing Expenses”
Tag Archives: Pension
Governance Matters: Expenses Continue to Outpace Revenue as Pension Liability Climbs – Microblog
In March 2023, El Cerrito unveiled its latest plan for financial improvement in response to a severe audit from the California State Auditor in 2021. This audit, part of a program targeting high-risk local governments, shed light on El Cerrito’s precarious financial state and tendency towards excessive expenditure. One key factor in the city’s revenueContinue reading “Governance Matters: Expenses Continue to Outpace Revenue as Pension Liability Climbs – Microblog”
State Auditor’s RoadMap: The Path to Success
The City of El Cerrito, while initially agreeing with some of the State Auditor’s recommendations, has shown a lack of commitment in implementing these suggestions, particularly in managing its financial struggles. The city’s budgets have consistently shown increased expenditures without justifying the rises, and its budget policy lacks clear procedures for monitoring departmental spending. ThisContinue reading “State Auditor’s RoadMap: The Path to Success”
Assessing Safety and Spending: A Tale of Two West Contra Costa Cities
The State Auditor’s report on page 25 highlights El Cerrito’s distinction of having the largest police staff per capita in the region, and potentially in California. Despite this, having more police officers doesn’t automatically translate to increased safety. El Cerrito faces the dual challenge of rising staffing costs and an escalating crime rate. El Cerrito’sContinue reading “Assessing Safety and Spending: A Tale of Two West Contra Costa Cities”
City’s State of Affairs Address: Citizens Seek Authenticity Amidst Reality
In Tuesday’s annual State of the City address, outgoing El Cerrito Mayor Lisa Motoyama delivered a message of optimism and progress for our beloved city. While the tone was cheerful, it’s essential to consider the broader context and some missed points that are crucial for a complete understanding of El Cerrito’s current situation. Her optimisticContinue reading “City’s State of Affairs Address: Citizens Seek Authenticity Amidst Reality”
El Cerrito’s Stalled Progress: How Council Inaction Harms Community and Staff
This blog has been consistently focused on the critical aspects of governance, accountability, and transparency within El Cerrito’s city administration. The Chief Executive Officer, and City Manager, carries the responsibility for overseeing both the operational and financial performance of El Cerrito. It is essential to note that the City Manager is accountable to the City Council.Continue reading “El Cerrito’s Stalled Progress: How Council Inaction Harms Community and Staff”
Blog Purpose: Promoting Transparency and Accountability
As the year draws to a close, it’s important to reflect on the core purpose of this blog. Our goal has always been to promote responsible, sustainable, and transparent governance in El Cerrito. Each post we publish is aligned with this objective. At El Cerrito Community for Responsible Government, we’re aware that some of ourContinue reading “Blog Purpose: Promoting Transparency and Accountability”
Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result
City Leadership: It’s not Us, It’s You. You just don’t understand. Citizens: Most residents want a new and improved library. We support the City’s efforts, but clearly not at any cost. In 2016, the initial attempt to secure a library bond in El Cerrito faced a resounding rejection from the Citizens. The bond measure crumbled dueContinue reading “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result”
A Critical Look at El Cerrito’s City Management: Where Are the Funds Going? Read on:
In previous blogs, we delved further into the intriguing world of governance, or more pointedly, the absence thereof. To date, several people have chimed in to say that all candidates live in El Cerrito. But the blog’s crux is governance, and governance is the epicenter of El Cerrito’s woes. In this case: No one hasContinue reading “A Critical Look at El Cerrito’s City Management: Where Are the Funds Going? Read on:”
When a city goes bankrupt:Vallejo case study
As we continue toward the new year, it’s crucial to revisit a topic of utmost importance – the city’s financial health and the looming threat of increased taxes. Originally published in January 2021, this blog post is being brought back to spotlight the ongoing concerns surrounding our city’s fiscal mismanagement. Despite previous warnings, there isContinue reading “When a city goes bankrupt:Vallejo case study”
El Cerrito as Charter City – Chaos
The City of El Cerrito was originally incorporated as a General Law City in 1917 and became a Charter City in November 2018. The City is organized as a Council-Manager form of local municipal government. The City Council consists of five members elected at large for four- year, overlapping terms. A California charter city is aContinue reading “El Cerrito as Charter City – Chaos”
Employee Pension and Benefits
EECRG is rerunning this blog primarily because the unfunded liability of El Cerrito Pension Costs has ballooned to $85 million dollars during the year since this post was written. _______________________________________________ Lost in the din of cheering about the progress of going from the 8th worst-ranked City in California to only the 13th worst (out ofContinue reading “Employee Pension and Benefits”
Hercules, CA: A Model of Fiscal Responsibility and Good Governance
Hercules, a picturesque city in western Contra Costa County, California, may not be as well-known as some of its neighboring San Francisco Bay Area communities. Still, it boasts a unique and commendable feature that sets it apart from the El Cerrito —its commitment to fiscal responsibility and good governance. In this blog post, we’ll delveContinue reading “Hercules, CA: A Model of Fiscal Responsibility and Good Governance”
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving from the El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government! As we gather with our families and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, we at the El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to each and every one of you – our valued readers and supporters. This year has beenContinue reading “Happy Thanksgiving”
More taxes to cover mismanagement – a fool’s errand.
El Cerrito’s Tax Dilemma: A Call for Accountability and Transparency El Cerrito boasts one of the most robust tax bases in California, yet there’s an ongoing push for even higher taxation. Alongside this, questions arise about the city’s responsible use of the previously approved taxes. Sales Tax in El CerritoAs of October 2023, El Cerrito’sContinue reading “More taxes to cover mismanagement – a fool’s errand.”
The deceit from El Cerrito has no bounds
YOU CAN’T JUST LEAVE THOSE WHO CREATED THE PROBLEM IN CHARGE OF THE SOLUTION is titled -The deceit from El Cerrito has no bounds Last week, EECRG reported the lack of transparency in presenting the financials to the public. The October meeting agenda, released Thursday, continues silence on Financial Updates and the fiscal year endingContinue reading “The deceit from El Cerrito has no bounds”
GFOA Best Practices Budget on Timely Financial Reports
YOU CAN’T JUST LEAVE THOSE WHO CREATED THE PROBLEM IN CHARGE OF THE SOLUTION is titled – GFOA Best Practices Budget on Timely Financial Reports It’s easy to get excited about organizational changes when you’re the force behind them. Still, it’s typically disastrous for an outside entity to recommend a necessary change. There are sevenContinue reading “GFOA Best Practices Budget on Timely Financial Reports”
YOU CAN’T JUST LEAVE THOSE WHO CREATED THE PROBLEM IN CHARGE OF THE SOLUTION is titled GFOA Best Practices Budget on Achieving a Structurally Balanced Budget
Adopt rigorous policies for all operating funds aimed at achieving and maintaining a structurally balanced budget According to the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), “Most state and local governments are subject to a requirement to pass a balanced budget. However, a budget that may fit the statutory definition of a “balanced budget” may not beContinue reading “YOU CAN’T JUST LEAVE THOSE WHO CREATED THE PROBLEM IN CHARGE OF THE SOLUTION is titled GFOA Best Practices Budget on Achieving a Structurally Balanced Budget”
Waste and Abuse
This Series: YOU CAN’T JUST LEAVE THOSE WHO CREATED THE PROBLEM IN CHARGE OF THE SOLUTION Part I Tyree Scott was a U.S. labor leader and civil rights activist deeply involved in many minority workers’ and equal opportunity organizations. His quote, ‘You can’t just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solutionContinue reading “Waste and Abuse”
Time For The Guard Rails
The last blog focused on Deceit: How City Leadership Has Repeatedly Misled the Community. Today’s blog is titled Time For The Guardrails! The competing goals are playing themselves out as the volunteer three-member Financial Advisory Board tries to implement a policy for the General Reserve Fund for the City. What are these goals? Obviously, theContinue reading “Time For The Guard Rails”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 