In Just 1 Year, 134 Lifeguards Cost Los Angeles Taxpayers $70 Million
Summertime means hitting the beach and enjoying the open ocean. For taxpayers in Los Angeles County, these activities incur a substantial financial cost.
Recent reporting from Open the Books, a watchdog group, found that total compensation for 134 of the county’s 1,500 lifeguards reached $70.8 million in 2024. Of this total, 34 earned $300,000 or more in their compensation package. Lifeguard Chief Fernando Boiteux was the top earner, receiving $523,351 in total compensation.
These numbers are a significant increase from 2021, when Open the Books “found 98 lifeguards earned at least $200,000 including benefits.”
While base pay, time off, and health care benefits factor into these high costs, overtime pay is a major contributor to a lifeguard’s compensation package. Open the Books found that 45 lifeguards “collected b
Article from Reason.com
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