Lifeguard in blue city cash pays a dime for taxpayers with six-figure salary

On July 4, it’s not just the waves that shine in Los Angeles – the high salary of lifeguards is also turning.

according to New report Written by fiscal regulatory group Openthebooks, at least one Los Angeles County lifeguard ran for more than $5 million last year. Meanwhile, 34 lifeguards brought $300,000 or more during 2024, while 134 lifeguards brought at least $200,000 in basic salary, overtime and other benefits.

Los Angeles County taxpayers are used to being soaked, but for some, hearing about lifeguard salaries can be “disturbing” and the city still faces shortages Firefighters and policemen, And work hard to put out the wildfire or return Violent crime Openthebooks CEO John Hart said before the pandemic.

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Hart told Fox News Digital Numbers, “Lifeguards who risk protecting public lives should be adequately compensated, but paying them more than $500,000 could upset taxpayers who are flooding their debts.” “Again, Los Angeles – A city that works hard to put out fires and lootings is leading with huge salaries that need to be resolved. ”

Last year, 134 top-paid lifeguards in Los Angeles County earned $70.8 million, with an average total salary of more than $500,000 per person, according to Openthebooks. In addition to basic and overtime payments, the dollar amount includes “other” wages, time off, health insurance payments, pension contributions, deferred contributions, long-term disability and life insurance expenditures.

The highest-paid lifeguard Openthebooks found $523,351 in base salary, “other salary” and benefits for 2024.

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Lifeguards are keeping an eye on people as they relax on the beach on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. (Photo taken by Keith Birmingham/Medianews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

Lifeguards in Los Angeles County are considered one of the largest professional lifeguard services in the country. In addition to high-paying lifeguards, their responsibilities range from watching swimmers to major maritime rescues and emergency responses, and a range of low-paying lifeguards have a total of about 1,500 in the Los Angeles area, according to Openthebook.

Openthebooks, which tracks government waste spending, reported in 2021 that the highest lifeguards in Los Angeles County earn as much as $510,283, nearly half of which are overtime pay. That year, 98 lifeguards in Los Angeles County made at least $200,000.

In 2024, overtime pay plays an important role in increasing lifeguard income in Los Angeles.

Lifeguards in Los Angeles County earn huge salaries, and one lifeguard made $500,000 in 2024. (iStock)

In addition to Los Angeles, excessive overtime pay has sparked debate in other cities, especially those experiencing major budget shortages.

In Seattle, police Had to be disciplined for repeated violations of the city’s overtime policy. Every Seattle Timesa patrol officer performed better in 2019 than the mayor, police chief or any other city employee after more than $414,000 in rewards.

Overtime abuse is also a problem in other major cities such as New York and Chicago. In Chicago, New York City faces growing budget shortages, and records obtained by local news outlets found that the city has spent 30% of its time allocating overtime pay to police in the first six months of 2024. In New York, the former head of the NYPD is currently investigating suspected overtime and other crimes.

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Republicans’ “big bills” are allegedly intended to help overtime workers take home and under a “tax-free tip” rule. Initially, the House version of the bill had no limit on the amount of overtime pay that could be tax-free, but the Senate version limited it to $12,500.

Fox News Digital contacted the Los Angeles County Public Information Office for comment, but there was no response at the press time.