Visitors to famous Palm Beach Florida in the future might want to consider staying on the shore and out of the Atlantic Ocean. The wealthy town is trying to eliminate its ten lifeguards for budgetary reasons.
“This is the only service provided by the town at town taxpayer expense for which the overwhelming majority of customers are not residents of Palm Beach,” wrote Palm Beach Town manager Peter Elwell.
It’s estimated that 90 percent or more of the 500,000 people who visit these beaches each year are from other towns.
“Seemingly less important to Mr. Elwell appears to be the fact that these lifeguards made 39 rescues and administered first aid to 212 people in the first seven months of 2010,” wrote Liza Grant Smith in Forbes.
Elwell was trying to erase a $4.5 million shortfall for the upcoming budget year caused by diminishing property values and tax revenue. His initial budget proposal called for a 12.5 percent hike in property tax rate to keep revenue steady. The council promptly rejected any increase in the tax rate and Elwell was forced to look for additional revenue areas or costs to cut.
“Thankfully, waste management did not make the list. Palm Beach residents will continue to have their trash picked up on a daily basis,” Smith wrote.
The discontinuation of lifeguard service would net an annual savings of nearly $900,000.
Ultimately, however, the Town Council voted to keep the lifeguards for at least another year after public urging.
“Life can be a beach, but it doesn’t come cheap in Palm Beach,” concluded Smith
By David Wilkening
