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Private lifeguard operator seeks ATAX funding to cover training, certification and rising insurance costs
Summary
Beach Services LTD requested $58,316 in one-time ATAX support for lifeguard and EMR training, equipment and steps toward United States Lifesaving Association recognition, citing sharp increases in insurance and payroll costs and changes to county franchise rules.
Beach Services LTD representatives told the committee their agency faces mounting operational costs after county changes to franchise arrangements and rising insurance premiums.
Carter Cox and Alec Betts said lifeguard and emergency-medical responder certifications are expensive and time-consuming, particularly for seasonal staff and J-1 international hires. They requested $58,316 to support certification, training logistics and equipment needed to meet county and American Red Cross standards and to pursue USLA agency certification.
The presenters said franchise changes that separated rental operations from lifesaving duties effectively doubled some staffing expenses and that liability insurance alone increased substantially (they cited past increases, including an $81,000 rise between 2022 and 2023 and a current liability quote of roughly $143,000). Committee members acknowledged the public-safety implications and said they would weigh the request against other submitted public-safety and tourist-service asks.
