Posted on 05/20/2011 10:32:02 AM PDT by americanophile
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That's the kind of reaction Newport Beach's 13-member fulltime lifeguard crew has drawn this month, since the local newspaper editorialized about lifeguard salaries, benefits and overtime pay that in at least two instances top $200,000 (with $400 for sun protection) as the city struggles to rein in pension costs.
–SNIP-
Those whose salaries are in question point out that they hold management roles, have decades of service and are considered public safety employees under the fire department, the same as fire captains and battalion chiefs. The fulltime guards train more than 200 seasonal lifeguards who make between $16 and $22 an hour, run a junior lifeguard program that brings in $1 million a year and oversee safety on nearly seven miles of sand.
Many began as seasonal guards and worked their way into management roles and must stay certified as instructors in an array of advanced emergency, scuba and rescue techniques, said Brent Jacobsen, president of the Lifeguard Management Association, the lifeguards' union.
"Unfortunately, there's a lot of disinformation out there. People get this idea that we're talking about 17-year-old kids in lifeguard towers making $200,000 and that's not correct," he said. "We're professional level. Lifeguarding here is different than any other place in the entire world."
Base salaries for Newport Beach lifeguards range from $58,000 for the lowest-paid officer to $108,492 for the top-paid battalion chief
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Adding in overtime, special compensation, pension, medical benefits, life insurance and other pay, two battalion chiefs cleared more than $200,000 in 2010, while the lowest-paid officer made more than $98,000.
All lifeguards received $400 in sunscreen allowance and two cleared $28,000 apiece in overtime and night duty pay.
Newport Beach's lifeguards can also retire at 50 with 90 percent of their salary with 30 years of service, according to state data.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
The get plenty of other perks just for being a member of Babe Watch.
Must be nice.
Haahaahhahahhaahahaaaaaaa!!
I worked free just for the chance to attract chicks!
But we're worth it, right?
California sooo needs to go bankrupt..
Many of them play a game called pension spiking, where they bank tons of vacation and sick time to sell back and “work” a ton of OT their last year. These are all factored in to the pension calculation, i.e. (huge inflated number * 0.90) = nice fat COLA pension for life (plus medical probably).
You would think that all these unions could be reined in at least to the extent of pensions being calculated only on base salary — no OT or supplements for special duties should be included.
If they aren’t willing to be at least that reasonable, the I say screw ‘em. Pass a new special income surtax equal to 90% of any public pension amount exceeding $50K/yr.
Hire some Navy SEALs after they retire.
“You shot him right between the eyes! You’re a lifeguard!”
“I told him ‘No going in the water until one hour after you eat’. He didn’t listen.”
Hire some retiring Navy Seals and the people will run into the water with the sharks to keep from pissing off the lifeguards.
I know it; it’s such a scam.
Sigh...
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