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Town Hall · El Cerrito

El Cerrito spent more per resident in 2022 than 78% of similar cities

El Cerrito’s city government spent $49.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $1,921 per resident.

Town website
Next public meeting

Citizen Street Oversight Committee

7:00 pm · 10890 San Pablo Avenue

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2023
$49.6M
year to June 30, 2023
Per resident, 2023
$1,921
In 2022: $1,815, more than 78% of 92 similar cities
Long-term debt
$16.0M
end of FY2023, reported
City staff, 2022
136
full-time · 78 part-time · March payroll $1.6M
Typical tax bill
$9,367
0.83% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how El Cerrito is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,815 per resident, more than 78% of 92 similar cities.A shared school districtShares West Contra Costa Unified School District with 4 other towns.Its own police and fire29 sworn officers and 35 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From El Cerrito’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Nov4
    Design Review BoardWednesday · 7:00 pm · 10890 San Pablo AveCANCELLED Design Review Board Regular MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Nov3
    City CouncilTuesday · 6:00 pm · 10890 San Pablo Ave, City of El CerritoCANCELLED Regular City Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Nov2
    Community Safety CommitteeMonday · 6:00 pm · 10890 San Pablo AveCANCELLED Community Safety Committee Regular MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct28
    Park and Recreation CommissionWednesday · 7:00 pm · 10890 San Pablo AvePark and Recreation Commission Regular MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct27
    Financial Advisory BoardTuesday · 6:30 pm · 10890 San Pablo AveCANCELLED Financial Advisory Board Regular MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2023 budget

About $1,921 per resident a year, or $5.26 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: fire, at 27%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 32%Property taxes 25%Sales taxes 24%Other taxes & licenses 11%From the state 5%Interest, fines & other 2%From other local governments <1%From the federal government <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $2.6 million; interest on debt $715,000. With these, the whole budget was $53 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,815 per resident in 2022: more than 78% of them

El Cerrito’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,815 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,158, and the middle half spent $831–$1,730. El Cerrito spent more than 78% of them.

Middle half of the group, $831–$1,730Median $1,158El Cerrito

Includes sewer and trash ($2.6 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
92

California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; El Cerrito itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 8% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years El Cerrito reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$46.1 million
2023$49.6 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,815 · 2023: $1,921.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $9,367 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.83% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Kensington$10,000+
Albany$10,000+
El Cerrito$9,367
Richmond$6,291
California$5,124
$9,367
typical bill a year
0.83%
effective rate
$1,124,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at El Cerrito’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to El Cerrito’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in El Cerrito →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in El Cerrito

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See el-cerrito.org for El Cerrito’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for El Cerrito yet.el-cerrito.org ↗
Who works for El Cerrito

One full-time city employee for every 190 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (25,845).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Parks & libraries16 + 70 pt
Police37 + 1 pt
Fire36
Administration & buildings16 + 5 pt
Roads & transportation14
Sewer & trash10 + 2 pt
Housing & development3
Other4
136
full-time
78
part-time
$1.6M
payroll for March 2022
$19.1M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$133,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
29
sworn police officers
35
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.El Cerrito had 5.4 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 68 of the 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 3.3: El Cerrito had more than 82% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

West Contra Costa Unified School District

El Cerrito’s K–12 school district, shared with Pinole, San Pablo, Richmond, Hercules. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in El Cerrito →
$21,597
per pupil · CA $21,206
25,575
students
$1.3 billion
long-term debt

Of the $21,597 per pupil, $12,382 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 43%State 48%Federal 9%

California districts overall: 36% local, 52% state, 11% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

El Cerrito’s votes are counted by county

California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for El Cerrito alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Contra Costa County’s results.

President · Contra Costa County’s results527,759 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat67.4%355,460 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican29.3%154,751 votes

Others: 3.3% (17,548 votes).

Most votes in Contra Costa County: Kamala D Harris

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

100% of El Cerrito lies in Contra Costa County. Every 2024 race in Contra Costa County is on the county’s page.

Contra Costa County’s 2024 results →
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents El Cerrito

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for El Cerrito.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: el-cerrito.org ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Buffy Wicks
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Jesse Arreguín
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    John Garamendi
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of California
    Alex PadillaAdam B. Schiff

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How El Cerrito compares with the towns next door

El Cerrito spent $1,815 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,875 to $2,090. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Richmond: $2,090 per resident (2022)Kensington: unincorporated, no town budgetAlbany: $1,875 per resident (2022)RichmondKensingtonAlbanyEl Cerrito
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Albany$1,875$10,000+
Richmond$2,090$6,291
El Cerrito$1,815$9,367

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach El Cerrito’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websiteel-cerrito.org ↗

Questions about El Cerrito’s government

How much does El Cerrito spend per resident?

About $1,921 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,815 was more than 78% of 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in El Cerrito?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $9,367 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.83% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see el-cerrito.org.

Who runs El Cerrito’s government?

See el-cerrito.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for El Cerrito yet.

How did El Cerrito vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for El Cerrito alone. Contra Costa County, where 100% of El Cerrito lies, voted Harris 67.4%, Trump 29.3% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for El Cerrito?

136 full-time and 78 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.6M (about $19.1M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents El Cerrito in the state legislature?

State Senate District 7 (Jesse Arreguín) and Assembly District 14 (Buffy Wicks). The Assembly district also covers eight other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in El Cerrito?

The next posted meeting is Citizen Street Oversight Committee on Monday, November 9, at 7:00 pm in 10890 San Pablo Avenue, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about El Cerrito’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →