The City of El Cerrito reminds residents that Library Tax Ballot Measure Arguments are due on Wednesday, March 18, by 4 p.m.
At the February 19 City Council meeting, the El Cerrito City Council voted to place a qualified citizens initiative petition measure for a new El Cerrito Library and Library Services Parcel Tax on the June 2, 2026, ballot. The city has been looking at exploring sites and funding for a new public library since 2002.
Staff shared at the meeting the annual revenue would be approximately $3.16 million and cost residents around $331 per single-family home (on average).
According to the meeting:
- Annual Parcel Tax for 30-years restricted for a new library, bonds, library operations, and related expenses
- $0.17 per square foot / $100 per vacant parcel
- Voter Approval: Simple Majority
Staff presented on February 19 scenarios, including five conceptual approaches that range between $10 million to $48 million in cost estimates:
- Renovate Existing 6,500 SF library at a cost of $10 million
- Expand/Rebuild existing library to 13,000 SF at cost of $35 million
- Build 20,000 SF Library at Plaza TOD site at cost of $37 million
- Build 20,000 SF Library at new site at cost of $48 million
- Renovate existing 20,000 SF building into Library at cost of $41 million
The cost of the ballot measure is $80,163.
Councilmember Carolyn Wysinger called what was going on was analysis paralysis and a lot of talk—she called for more voter education and encouraging people to go to the polls in June. She agreed to place this on the June ballot.
“No matter what you want or don’t want it seems like people do not want to do the work to organize. We gotta stop kicking this can down the road. Everybody get together, campaign, organize for what you want so we know what the overall will of the voters is and if we put it on the ballot in June, at least we now know where we will not be getting any money from and we can forward from there,” stated Wysinger. “But this analysis and the paralysis, we gotta stop this. Get together, lets vote about it.”
Councilmember William Ktsanes gave a rundown of possible tax measures both in June and November. He highlighted by placing the item on the ballot in November was cheaper and more people vote in November which is more democratic – while noting June is a more important election. They also have a city council election in November which ties the library issue to the city council.
“I think November makes sense,” said Ktsanses. “The primary reason though, it’s the fiscally responsible decision to make.”
Mayor Gabe Quinto clarified with staff that if the Measure passes in June, they would be reimbursed – staff confirmed the city would be reimbursed.
The council then voted in a 4-1 vote with Ktsanes dissenting to place the library ballot measure on the June ballot.
Watch the Council Meeting: Click Here
Background Information per City of El Cerrito:
About measure C
On February 19, 2026 the City Council voted to place a qualified citizens initiative petition measure for a new El Cerrito Library and Library Services Parcel Tax on the June 2, 2026 ballot.
The deadline to submit ballot arguments for the measure are:
- Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 4:00 PM (Primary Arguments)
- Monday, March 23, 2026 at 4:00 PM (Rebuttal Arguments)
For more information regarding ballot arguments, please visit the El Cerrito Ballot Measures page.
About the citizens initiative
California Elections Code Division 9 Chapter 3, Article 1 outlines a process to submit any proposed ordinance (initiative) to the legislative body by a petition filed with the elections official of the legislative body.
On May 6, 2025 proponents filed a Notice of Intent to circulate an initiative Petition and measure text entitled “The El Cerrito Library Initiative. Pursuant to Elections Code, the City Attorney then prepared a Ballot Title and Summary that was provided to the proponents on May 21, 2025. The Ballot Title and Summary is used by the proponents to publish notice and circulate with the petition.
On June 13, 2025 the proponents submitted a revised version of the measure text, for which the City Attorney provided a revised Ballot Title and Summary that was used to circulate the petition.
On November 20, 2025 the signed petitions were submitted to the City Clerk and was considered filed on December 1, 2025 after completion of the Prima Facie review. The Prima Facie process reviews the format of all pages and sections of the petition for substantial compliance with elections code, and examines the information provided by all signers of the petition for completeness.
The petition was then hand delivered to Contra Costa County Clerk-Record-Elections department to complete a full signature verification and on January 9, 2026 was certified to contain sufficient signatures of registered voters of the city.
Once a petition is qualified, the legislative body is required to receive the results of the petition, which City Council took action to accept on January 20, 2026. At the same meeting, the City Council requested a report on the effects of the proposed ordinance pursuant to Election Code section 9212.
On February 19, 2026 the City Council received the 9212 report and took action to call an election for June 2, 2026 to place the proposed ordinance on the ballot.
Initiative Documents
- Notice of Intent to Circulate Petition (Filed on 5/6/2025)
- Revised Measure Text (Filed on 6/13/2025)
- Revised City Attorney Ballot Title and Summary (6/17/2025)
- Certificate of Petition Sufficiency (1/9/2026)
- Resolution 2026-04 (Accepting Sufficiency of the Petition) (1/20/2026)
- 9212 Initiative Impact Report (2/19/2026)
For more information or questions, please contact the City Clerk at [email protected] or 510-215-4305.
