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Beach patrol and event-safety asks top $3.2M as police, fire and EMS outline summer costs
Summary
Horry County public-safety presenters requested roughly $2.9 million for beach patrol continuation plus overtime and event staffing requests (bike weeks, PGA, NCAA Bowl). Garden City Fire and Horry County Fire Rescue also sought funds for jet-ski rescue staffing, ambulances, boat coverage and weekend peak units.
Multiple public-safety agencies told the ATAX advisory committee that summer tourism requires increased staffing and equipment and asked the committee to help cover those costs.
Chief Wyatt outlined a beach patrol request of roughly $2,900,000 to maintain existing personnel and equipment; he emphasized there are no new positions in the ask but rising personnel and equipment costs warrant the increase. He also sought roughly $304,000 for overtime tied to major events (Harley Week, Atlantic Beach Bike Fest) and additional overtime for the PGA Myrtle Beach Classic and the NCAA Myrtle Beach Bowl to cover traffic and venue security where county responsibility applies.
Battalion Chief Moore of the Garden City Fire District asked for $181,001.94 to continue the Marine Safety Initiative (MMSI): jet-ski rescuers with advanced medical training, side-by-side vehicles, and added weekend beach staffing that he said has reduced drowning incidents. Chief Lawson (Horry County Fire Rescue) requested peak ambulances and boat crews for Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend periods to address increased call volume.
Committee members asked clarifying questions about cross-jurisdictional coverage with Georgetown County and whether municipalities (for example Myrtle Beach) had been asked for matching funds; presenters said they have coordinated in some cases and that funding requests reflect the county's unincorporated coverage responsibility.
