General Fund Budget Update
Quarter 1 FY 2022-23
07/01/22 – 09/30/22
INTRODUCTION
The City of El Cerrito is pleased to submit the Quarter 1 FY 2022-23 General Fund Budget Update, for the period 07/01/22 through 09/30/22. The report provides a high-level overview of the City's budget status, reflecting unaudited expenditures and revenue.
GENERAL FUND REVENUE
FY 2022-23 General Fund revenue is budgeted at $45.6 million. Table 1 shows the year-to-date revenues by classification, and Table 2 shows the year-to-date revenues by department. As of September 30, 2022, tax revenues are at 9% budget, which is primarily due to revenue cycles for property taxes, the largest income source for the City, which is received in December and April and consequently is not reflected in Quarter 1 revenue actuals. Taxes partially received during Quarter 1 includes utility users' taxes, sales taxes, and real property transfer taxes (July and August only). Overall General Fund revenues for Quarter 1 is at 12% of the total FY 2022-23 Adopted Budget, which is slightly less than the 14% received for Quarter 1 FY 2021-22.
Table 1 reflects real property transfer taxes for the months of July and August only, as September funds (totaling $317,754) were received in October and will be reflected in the FY 2022-23 Midyear Budget Update. Adding the September real property tax funds to the Quarter 1 revenue actuals results in year-to-date revenue of $892,717 or 20% of the Adopted Budget. Property transfer taxes are performing as projected in the FY 2022-23 Adopted Budget, which is slightly less than the prior fiscal year. Staff will continue to monitor revenue streams closely and will report back to the City Council at midyear.
Table 1
General Fund Revenue Quarter 1
Classification YTD
Budget Amount
YTD
Actual Amount
% of
Budget
Prior Year
Total Actual
Property Taxes $11,213,200 $0 0% $0
Sales Taxes 7,430,117 638,616 9% 538,229
Transient Occupancy Taxes 150,000 0 0% 0
Franchise Taxes 1,400,000 401,162 29% 113,269
Business License Taxes 1,100,000 475,010 43% 845,492
Property Transfer Taxes 4,300,000 574,963 13% 1,024,566 Utility Users' Taxes 3,300,000 453,088 14% 496,130
Other Taxes 1,500 0 0% 560
Taxes Totals $28,894,817 $2,542,840 9% $3,018,246
Licenses & Permits 893,864 304,894 34% 335,381
Fines & Forfeitures 140,000 23,710 17% 47,738
Use of Money and Property 434,456 102,546 24% 98,653
Intergovernmental Revenues 8,270,048 678,724 8% 642,536 Charges for Services Totals 5,932,150 1,651,168 28% 1,383,680 Other Revenue Totals 136,000 64,858 48% 56,548
Other Financing Sources Totals 975,781 0 0% 239,080
Totals $45,677,116 $5,368,739 12% $5,821,861
Attachment 8.A.
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Table 2
General Fund Revenues – Department
Quarter 1
Revenue FY 2022-23
Adopted Budget
Year To Date
Actual
(thru Qtr 1)
Year To Date
% of Adopted
Budget
Comparison
Qtr 1
FY 2022
Non-departmental $33,504,534 $2,573,051 8% YTD Actual $3,315,214 Administration 12,900 539 4% 13,316
Police 214,000 46,509 22% 65,413
Fire 5,072,648 706,190 14% 642,108
Public Works 397,400 100,860 25% 109,738
Community Development 1,912,214 655,462 34% 753,920
Recreation 4,563,420 1,286,128 28% 922,152
Total $45,677,116 $5,368,739 12% $5,821,861
GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES
General Fund expenditures are budgeted at $44.9 million for FY 2022-23. Tables 3 and 4 show the expenditures year-to-date by classification and by department, respectively. Departments are on track for Quarter 1 at 21% of budgeted expenditures. This is slightly below the Quarter 1 FY 2021-22 expenditures at 25%.
As in previous fiscal years, Personnel is the largest component of General Fund expenditures (73%). Due to the current level of vacant positions, some departments may need to increase their professional services and/or overtime budgets which will be offset by savings in salaries and wages. Staff will continue to monitor these expenses.
Table 3
General Fund Expenditures – Classification
Quarter 1
Classification YTD Budget
Amount
YTD -Q1
Actual
Amount
% of
Budget
Prior Year
Total Actual
Personnel $32,777,811 $7,190,442 22% $8,292,649
Purchased Professional & Technical Services 4,421,343 593,041 13% 725,821 Purchased Property Services 2,297,704 124,682 5% 200,315 Other Purchased Services 2,950,883 1,477,397 50% 561,638 Supplies 773,131 26,161 3% 62,009
Property & Capital 443,147 36,212 8% 57,750
Financing Costs 532,280 18,461 3% 151,648
Other Financing Uses 667,763 0 0% 332,806
Totals $44,864,062 $9,466,396 21% $10,384,635
In Table 3, the actual expenditures reflect for the “Other Purchased Services” classification includes the one-time full fiscal year’s annual insurance premiums which are paid each year in July. Also, in Table 4, expenditures reflected for the Administration Department includes the one-time full fiscal year’s annual payments.
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Table 4
General Fund Expenditures – Departments
Quarter 1
Expenditures FY 2022-23
Adopted Budget
Year To Date
Actual
(thru Qtr 1)
Year To Date
% of
Adopted Budget
Comparison
Qtr 1 FY
2022
Administration $6,435,515 $2,173,782 34% YTD Actual $1,543,173 Police 12,986,734 2,385,022 18% 2,946,684
Fire 13,346,883 2,715,279 20% 3,286,621
Public Works 2,307,220 287,662 12% 395,288
Community Development 3,181,129 565,728 18% 637,862
Recreation 5,559,574 1,316,466 24% 1,147,456
Non-departmental 1,047,007 22,457 2% 427,553
Total $44,864,062 $9,466,396 21% $10,384,635
SUMMARY
The City of El Cerrito is currently on track to meet FY 2022-23 budget goals. Revenues are not received in equal quarterly releases, primarily due to the biannual funding cycle (December and April) for property taxes.
Expenditures are on track, with departments spending approximately 21% of their annual budget in Quarter 1.
Staff is continuously monitoring revenue and expenditure trends. Any trends indicating a need for budget adjustments is determined after the completion of Quarter 2 and will be reported to City Council at the FY 2022-23 Midyear budget session.
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CITY HALL 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530
Telephone (510) 215-4305 Fax (510) 215-4379 http://www.el-cerrito.org
SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA MATERIALS
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
November 1, 2022
PUBLIC COMMENT INDEX
1. Public Comments received
Agenda Item 5G – Letter of Opposition on California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Rulemaking 20-08-020
1. Additional Background Information
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CITY HALL 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530
Telephone (510) 215-4305 Fax (510) 215-4379 http://www.el-cerrito.org
SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA MATERIALS
PUBLIC COMMENT INDEX
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
November 1, 2022
The following Public Comments were received by 3:00:00 p.m. 11/01/2022, were provided directly to City Councilmembers in advance of the meeting, and were posted online as supplemental materials at www.el-cerrito.org/CouncilMeetingMaterials Public Comments – Items Not on the Agenda
1. Cordell Hindler
Agenda Item 5B – Human Rights in Iran Proclamation
1. Jaleh Niazi
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From: Cordell Hindler
To: City Clerk
Subject: Public Comments- Not on Agenda
Date: Thursday, October 27, 2022 3:13:06 PM
Good Evening Mayor Quinto, Council Members and Staff, I have some comments for the Record
1. for a Future Agenda, The Council Should Invite Danny Wan to provide a Presentation on how the Port of Oakland has recovered from the Pandemic
2. Also to have a Status on the Class & Comp study
Sincerely
Cordell
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Thank you for this opportunity to declare my solidarity with the evolving revolution in Iran for basic human rights, led by women and the youth demanding a free, democratic and just society. My name is Jaleh Niazi, and I am a pediatrician in Berkeley serving the Bay Area communities.
As women all across the country in Iran, supported by most members of society, are putting their bodies and their lives in front of a brutal militarized police demanding basic human rights, chanting Zan Zendeghi, Azadi, Woman Life Liberty we must amplify their voices. The unarmed demonstrators, some as young as 8, are facing batons, guns, when arrested torture and death in the dungeons of the Islamic Republic of Iran, yet they keep on showing up on the streets demanding freedom and the end to this oppressive regime.
These women are standing on the shoulders of women who have paved the way.
No one has been a stronger defender of rights of women, children and ethnic and religious minorities than Ms. Nasrin Sotoudeh, who is currently serving a sentence of 38 years and 148 lashes, albeit on medical furlough, for simply being their lawyer and speaking the truth. Known as the Iranian Mandela, due to her stance against gender apartheid, she was recently interviewed by Time Magazine on Supplemental Packet Page 4 of 12
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September 29, 2022, at great peril to herself. I quote “This is one of the most extensive protests that you’ve (we’ve) had. It’s spread to cities and towns all over.
As you know, the spark for it was the killing of Mahsa Amini, which really embodies by itself the 43 years of pain that women have endured in this country.
This is for us a physical, bodily experience. It’s as real an aspect of life here as it could be. Sentence after sentence, ruling after ruling are imposed on our bodies in terms of our dress. And not only that, but rape and other transgressions. They hit you and hurt you and bruise you and wrap you up in the veil once again that conceals the harm that’s inflicted on you.…. She goes on to say that these demonstrations can lead to a regime change and states “We expect support from everyone, because we are defending our common values and principles” So how can we outside Iran support them? The United States, the most powerful country in the world, was founded on ideals of justice and liberty, albeit for a select section of society, but having the capacity to change to realize it for all members.
Unfortunately, its foreign policy has been toxic to the Middle East, however, her people are some of the most decent people I have ever met. President Biden in his first State of the Union speech spoke of upholding human rights around the world.
This is the time to show that he means what he said. I know that it is tricky, given the history of the CIA coup d’etat in 1953, overthrowing a popular prime minister, Supplemental Packet Page 5 of 12
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Dr. Mossadegh, and the fear of labeling this movement as American, but standing up for women’s rights should not be that difficult. President Obama just recently stated that he had wished he had done more to support the 2009 Green Movement.
First of all we must not enable the Islamic Republic by providing it funds in any shape or form. So the United States or any other democratic country should not legitimize the brutal regime by negotiating with them. No nuclear deal. As a matter of fact, the American Government should seize the assets of all of the Iranian government officials and arrest, at a minimum deport them out of the country, because they have been found guilty of crimes against humanities in international courts, most recently in August 2022 in Sweden. The U.S. should use its influence to ask its allies to do the same. While the Iranian government and security forces have made life for their own citizens unbearable, how dare they send their children with the money they have stolen from Iran to Western countries to live freely and in luxury. Seize their assets and deport them. Our first lady, our vice president, other first ladies, women leaders in Congress, in broadcasting, in entertainment, and other influencers should voice repeatedly their solidarity with the women and the people of Iran. Military intervention is not an option but support of the internet and communication systems is a must. I thank President Biden for working on this. President Biden, please don’t sit with wolves in sheep skin, who are pretending to represent the Iranian community abroad but have other Supplemental Packet Page 6 of 12
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agendas. NIAC, for years has white washed the human rights violations in Iran; they do not represent the Iranian American community nor the Iranian people, but the interests of the regime. This is the group that influenced President Obama’s decision.
Another group,the Mujahidin Khalq fought on the side of Iraq in the Iran Iraq war, and have little following in the country . So, even though Mr. Azimi, who is now being interviewed by many news outlets, claims that Maryam Rajavi, their leader, is leading this movement, it is simply a lie. The women, the youth of Iran are leading this movement. Listen to their voices. Help them realize their dreams and after they have overthrown this regime, use your power to have an international committee monitor a fair election in Iran. Despite the Islamic Republic of Iran’s rhetoric, Iranians love Americans and American values. Actually, it is a two way streak. The founding fathers consulted Cyropedia, from thousands of years ago, to see how to govern and honor a land made of different ethnicities, religions and languages. President Biden, if you do what America at its best stands for, it will not only free a people from an oppressive regime but will have the added benefit of winning you many more votes in November.
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But what can ordinary citizens do to support democracy in Iran. Share and reshare on all platforms any news that comes about Iran, to keep this struggle alive in the world’s eyes, because the Islamic Republic is counting on people losing interest.
Call out those who are providing Fake news about these demonstrations. Signs petitions in support of the movement. For example there is a petition circulating requesting the United Nations to remove the Islamic Republic from UN’s Women’s Rights Commission (what a farce). University students are under attack by the militarized police. We here can write to our universities and ask them to write a statement of solidarity with them; here is an example https://docs.google.com/document/d/12T9dclEJkg56I0kSCBhb2gOI_Gc_k2GnZD WT8iKjPoA/edit?usp=sharing . Healthcare workers, including a physician have been killed and injured by the police. International medical organizations should be asked to make statements of solidarity with their colleagues in Iran. Because the wounded can and do get arrested when going to hospitals the AMA can set up telehealth capabilities to try to attend to their wounds outside of a healthcare facility. Attend rallies in support of the Iranian movement. And contact your representatives to pass resolutions in support of human rights and against human rights violations that are happening in Iran. This is the United States and people have the right to hold their representatives accountable; this is what a free society looks like. I am here today because of this fact.
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Mayor Quinto and the El Cerrito City Council, I thank you for your strong support of human rights, particularly women’s rights in Iran. With this proclamation El Cerrito is the seventh cosignatory, and the fifth city to pass a resolution in support of human rights in Iran, putting the Islamic Republic on notice that their behavior is no longer acceptable. Alameda County Democratic Party and the University of California student association are two cosignatories of a similar resolution. Cities of Berkeley, Oakland, Danville , Pinole and Santa Cruz have already passed resolutions in support of human rights in Iran. Cities of Richmond and Emeryville are passing resolutions tonight. We hope to build this movement all across the country, signing up as many cities in the U.S. and outside of the United States, modeled by the successful campaign for Neslon Mandela and against the South African apartheid system initiated by Glasgow, Scotland eventually signing up more than 2500 cities in 56 countries around the world. The Iranian Mandela and the women’s rights movement deserve nothing less.
Dear Mayor Quinto and the El Cerrito City Council, thank you for being the voice of the Iranian women and the Iranian People and giving me this opportunity to express my opinions. Zan Zendeghi Azadi.
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CPUC NET ENERGY METERING (NEM) DECISION BACKGROUND
California Solar and Storage Association
September, 2022
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has been considering changes to the current net energy metering (NEM) rules that apply to solar, behind the meter storage and small microgrids. We expect a formal decision very soon.
The NEM rules establish how much solar customers will get compensated for excess solar they don’t need to serve their own needs that is exported to the utility system. The NEM discussion has largely focused on the residential solar market but there are significant impacts to non-residential customers such as schools, cities, hospitals and small businesses.
Under today’s NEM rules, customers are paid the retail rate for excess solar energy that is exported to the utility system. That means they are paid the same as what they pay for electricity under their underlying utility rate plan.
As part of the NEM rule changes the CPUC is considering imposing large monthly fees on residential and non-residential (including public sector) solar customers that could significantly depress the clean energy market, and negatively impact California-based clean energy businesses supporting a sizable number of jobs statewide. Further, the CPUC is considering deep cuts (70-80%) to the solar export credit that would immediately reduce the value of solar for residential, commercial, educational, government, non-profit, and agricultural solar energy systems.
While it is not unreasonable to modernize the NEM rules, a graduated change is needed to avoid shocking the solar energy market and preventing Californians from moving to renewable energy.
California businesses, schools and cities need more clean energy solutions, not less, especially considering concerns with climate change and resiliency in many California communities.
The attached letter seeks to remind the CPUC of the importance of a balanced decision in the NEM proceeding for the non-residential sector. We appreciate your support.
Agenda Item 5.G.
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California’s most powerful utility companies want you to believe that there is a hidden war taking place between ordinary customers and the 1.3 million households in the state with solar panels on their properties.
Under a program called net energy metering, utility companies credit solar customers for the excess energy they export to the grid after they’ve powered their homes. That provides incredible savings for each solar-powered household, but customers who don’t use solar pay an estimated $3.4 billion more each year, essentially forcing them to shoulder the difference through higher monthly bills.
Corporations such as PG&E, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas and Electric Co. claim that communities of color and lower-income households are harmed the most by this formula for rooftop solar. Utilities say that households with photovoltaics aren’t paying their fair share when they use gridsupplied energy at night, creating an unfair cost shift that must be rectified.
Everything about this cynical, corporate-driven argument stinks. If the California Public Utilities Commission, the state’s utility regulator, sides with the companies, they’ll gut net energy metering and Supplemental Packet Page 11 of 12
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fundamentally alter California’s booming solar energy economy. Right now, the CPUC is weighing several proposals from public advocacy groups and the state’s biggest utilities, some of which would slash solar subsidies and charge fees for grid usage, making it harder for households to pay off their solar installations.
The push for rooftop solar reforms has nothing to do with ideology or classism or systemic inequities. It is about companies trying to manipulate the public into believing that democratized clean energy production is bad for the state. The CPUC should not once again bail out corporations like PG&E, which has routinely scorched olive branches it never deserved. Why would California give it another? The appeal of rooftop solar and the immediate and long-term savings has never been greater, and the proliferation of the self-sustaining technology has made it accessible to most California households that want it. This year, the average cost to install a 5-kilowatt system was $14,100, according to Energy Sage, an online marketplace funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. That’s before the 26% federal tax credit and other state and local incentives are factored in, lowering the cost even further.
In 2019, 42% of California solar adopters had an annual income of $100,000 or less, and 14% earned under $50,000, according to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory data. Five years ago, those two demographics accounted for over half of Sacramento County’s solar conversions.
California’s building regulations require new homes to be equipped with solar panels, which could drive 100,000 new installations a year. But the housing crisis creates razor-thin margins for affordable projects that routinely face funding gaps to leverage investment dollars into tax credits. Increasing solar costs further compromises funding models that were already on shaky ground.
In a sense, net energy metering in California has created a carbon tax on utility companies, which are feeling the squeeze of the clean energy transition in the form of higher costs for systems built on fossil fuels. Through policy and market forces, these antiquated, profit-driven corporations, which are responsible for environmental destruction, mass death and financial hardship, are being forced to reckon with a consumer base driven by self-sufficiency and sustainability.
As clean energy goals are incorporated into enforceable laws in the coming years, private utilities will be required to fund and build industrial-scale solar and wind farms to comply with climate-minded regulations. Disempowering California residents who wish to take control of their energy production would only hinder our ability to meet our climate goals, effectively surrendering agency to corporations that have shown they cannot be trusted. Democratized rooftop solar threatens their ability to generate massive revenues from wind and solar farms, projects they will ultimately be forced to build to stave off extinction.
That they’re making social justice and equity claims for their own gain is despicable. What the utilities are unwilling to say out loud is that their rates will increase regardless. PG&E faces billions in wildfire liabilities, which grow every fire season. And the infrastructure repairs mandated by California law are going to eat up their budgets either way.
The same Black and brown families they hold up as pawns in a manufactured class struggle over solar subsidies were always going to be affected. If rooftop solar and net energy metering are preserved, lower-income households will at least have an exit strategy and the benefits of a market that is growing as intended.
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