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Council debates reducing guarded beaches as budget pressures mount; staff to model impacts
Summary
Council members discussed whether to reduce the number of guarded beaches to lower costs after the county declined to provide funding. Staff will provide rescue and usage metrics and cost scenarios to show savings if coverage were consolidated.
Vero Beach councilors spent a significant portion of the budget workshop discussing lifeguards and beach coverage after police and recreation staff outlined operating costs for next year.
Lifeguarding costs and current coverage: staff reported the Recreation Department’s lifeguard program accounts for roughly $1.01 million of the department’s $2.88 million operating budget (about 35–40 percent). The city currently staffs three guarded beach locations (South Beach, Humiston/J.C. Park and a third station) and the Leisure Square pool; lifeguard hours were described as training plus guarded hours roughly 10 a.m.–5 p.m. during the season. Staff said part-time hires and overtime fill open shifts…
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