How would you spend $500 to fund what is most important to you in El Cerrito?

Click above to view the March 2014 community presentation on the budget.

The City of El Cerrito is facing tough fiscal challenges again this year. Unlike many other cities, during the recent economic recession and despite declining revenues and the dissolution of the City’s Redevelopment Agency by the State, the City managed to maintain its high level of service during these tough years. However, preliminary projections suggest it will be difficult for the City to maintain a balanced budget in the coming fiscal year (FY2014-15) without reducing programs and services, and/or developing new revenues.

Despite the financial challenges, the City is still committed to providing exemplary service to the public and to fulfilling the goals identified in the Strategic Plan. Staff is currently looking at how best to bring in additional revenues and reduce expenses, and is developing a plan to return the City’s reserves to at least 10% of budgeted annual expenditures in the near future.

Last month (March 2014) we held a series of community meetings on this topic, and heard some great feedback from community members. This forum is intended to continue that conversation online.

Click on the image of the "Community Budget Priorities" presentation to review a brief presentation summarizing the City’s current financial situation as well as an overview of the City’s Strategic Plan goals including programs and services that fulfill the goal, the departments responsible, and the funding currently allocated.

Below, you are invited to put a "value" on the goals that you think are the most important for the City to focus on in the next few year, by spending a 'theoretical' $500. You can distribute the funds evenly to all of the choices or you can spend your money towards one area.

How you allocate the $500 will show which programs and services are most essential to you and help City officials to best prioritize its limited resources while maintaining El Cerrito’s quality of life.

Please click on POST below to view and allocate funds to the goal(s) with the services and programs you feel are most important to the community. As you are filling in your budget choices, you may also add comments. Thank you for your participation.

Additional information is online at www.el-cerrito.org/budgetpriorities