Lifeguards and lifeguard funding is a priority. At least that’s what 88 percent of readers who responded to the poll feel.
Last week I wrote that Memorial Day weekend was a busy one for lifeguards. They rescued 14 people from the ocean and there were zero drownings. The topic of lifeguard funding has been in the news in recent years and many readers have written to me suggesting more lifeguards, which, of course, would mean more funding required.
I took a look back at a failed county commission attempt to get municipalities to pay more for lifeguards. I thought it was worth taking another stab at this to fund potential expansion of the lifeguard coverage.
Last week I asked:
Should municipalities pay more for lifeguards?
The results:
Yes: 84.88%
No: 15.12%
Here’s what you had to say:
Where does the parking money from Fisher Park and Shepard Park go? Why doesn’t Lori Wilson Park charge for parking? Where will all of those lifeguards come from?
–Liz Pickering
Also look at redistributing the Tourism Tax. You want the tourists to use our beach, and you want lifeguards to rescue. Perhaps more of the Tourism Tax should be used for the Lifeguards, especially in the summer months.
–Vickie Openshaw
Local and state governments can afford to give tax breaks to big businesses and developers, but blow off funding for Ocean Rescue. Just another example of how warped this state is.
–Tim Rooney
While developing the East Central Florida Rip Current Forecasting program at the Melbourne National Weather Service, I read a lot of stories about tragedies along the beaches of the world. We always advertised that people should swim near a lifeguard. Statistics showed that it was extremely rare to have a person die when a crewed lifeguard tower was nearby. Sadly, people usually do just the opposite. They avoid the crowd and go far up or down the beach where the lifeguards cannot see them. Also, I have read about some government jurisdictions that voted to cut or eliminate funds for lifeguards and then have multiple people drown in one day. I don’t know who should pay more or less, but if you’re counting on the money that tourists bring in, you need to provide the appropriate funding for a solid coverage of lifeguards along the beaches. I cringe whenever I hear about inadequate coverage of lifeguards. You are failing to learn from past mistakes when you let that happen. A tragic loss of lives will eventually occur! Also, you would be shooting yourself in the foot and causing a big loss of tourist income after these tragedies occur. I know education is important and people make bad choices, but often children are the victims. So Brevard county and its municipalities, come together and work this out!
–Randy Lascody
I am a resident of Cocoa Beach, have lived in Brevard County for over 46 years. My opinion on the lifeguard financing issue is that the Tourism industry should pay more. Most drowning victims have been tourists. It would help but not solve the issue, but Beachside hotels, motels should also be required to hire lifeguards to guard the beaches that their properties abut to and their guests utilize.
The advertising monies for tourism that our county, cruise ship companies and hotels etc. pay to attract tourists to our shorelines, should provide more funds than they do. A small town of just over 11,000 residents that do pay property taxes to the county should not have to absorb the expenses of the large population that the tourism industry brings to our area.
It is a tragedy for someone to lose their life or the life of a loved one on our beaches. There is no excuse for the county and the tourism council to not provide more funding through their tourism advertising funds, they have created the additional influx of people to our shores, they should provide the protection needed for the tourists to safely enjoy them.
I have witnessed a lot of growth in our county over the years and right now its fast paced growth pattern is similar to my birthplace of Miami . There is no way to stop progress, but the people in charge need to provide more funding to protect the visitors they encourage through their advertising funds. When you invite someone to your home, you do take care of them don’t you?
–Georgette McWilliams
As a resident of Brevard County beachside for 47 years, paying for lifeguards is a must!
My only worry when my grandkids and friends visit is the riptide danger! We must protect all swimmers, especially our youth. They are our future. Even if I am at the beach with them, I could not save them. Any consequences of extra crowds and tourists can be managed.
–Sara Schenk
Contact Torres at jtorres@floridatoday.com. You can follow him on X @johnalbertorres. Florida video editor Rob Landers contributed to this report.Support local journalism and become a subscriber. Visit floridatoday.com/subscribe
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Readers say cities should chip in for lifeguards
Reporting by John A. Torres, Florida Today / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By John A. Torres, Florida Today | USA TODAY Network
