A recent public comment submitted by a concerned El Cerrito resident—featured on page 735 of the June 3, 2025, City Council agenda packet—highlights urgent and deeply troubling issues regarding the city’s financial practices. The letter, written by Janos Szlatenyi, outlines not only a critique of the city’s current fiscal approach but also a clear warning:Continue reading “El Cerrito’s Financial Reckoning: A Call for Long-Term Responsibility”
Tag Archives: retirement-planning
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”
Understanding El Cerrito’s Check Register Limitations – microblog
The City of El Cerrito recently released its monthly disbursement and check register. While such reports might seem like a step toward transparency, they offer little insight into the city’s financial health. A check register is merely a list of payments made within a specific time frame, without providing any context about the overall budget,Continue reading “Understanding El Cerrito’s Check Register Limitations – microblog”
El Cerrito’s Removal from High-Risk Designation: A Milestone, Not a Finish Line
Today marks a significant moment for the City of El Cerrito. The California State Auditor has officially removed our city from its “High Risk” designation, a status reserved for the bottom 5% of cities with severe financial vulnerabilities. This milestone reflects the city’s progress in achieving fiscal stability, improving budget reporting, and implementing some soundContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Removal from High-Risk Designation: A Milestone, Not a Finish Line”
El Cerrito’s Fire Service Staffing: A Costly Miscalculation
El Cerrito stands out among its neighboring cities for its unusually high concentration of fire services relative to its population and geographic size. The California State Auditor previously recommended that El Cerrito conduct a staffing analysis to determine the appropriate staffing levels for each classification. However, nearly four years later, the city has disregarded thisContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Fire Service Staffing: A Costly Miscalculation”
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 Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 