City eyes lifeguard staffing cuts as deficit balloons

The city is poised to make $34 million in cuts to lifeguard and fire services to help bridge the city’s anticipated $179 million shortfall in the 2011 general fund.

As the city wrestles with a mammoth deficit, officials are eyeing cuts to lifeguard and fire services and even the removal of public fire pits like this one in Ocean Beach. Lifeguard stations may also be targeted. (Photo by Ronan Gray/Peninsula Beacon)

“Since all departments have experienced budget reductions over the past two years, cuts that had minimal impact on core services have already been taken,” wrote Fire Chief Javier Mainar in a Nov. 3 letter to the Fire and Rescue Department. “Consequently, recommendations for cuts to core services, where a majority of our expenses occur, were inevitable this go round, given the size of our target.”

Fire and lifeguard stations may be forced to close during this round of budget cuts, according to Mainar.

“While I cannot yet share with you the specific cuts submitted, I can tell you they include both non-personnel expenses (supplies, services, outlay) and personnel expenses (overtime and staffing) throughout the department,” Mainar wrote.

The city expects to finalize its budget cuts this month and implement the budget reductions by Jan. 1, 2010. The city will hold its first public hearing concerning the budget cuts on Dec. 7 and a second public hearing on Dec. 14, at which time City Council is expected to vote on the proposed cuts.

La Jolla lifeguard Gavin McBride said staffing levels have already been cut to a minimum and that the department may have to staff stations with one lifeguard or close them altogether.

McBride and other lifeguards have formed the San Diego Association for Lifeguards to inform the public about the pending cuts. McBride estimates 80 percent of the city’s full-time lifeguards are members of the association.

Visit their website at www.san-dal.webs.com.

“Our mission is to let the people know what’s going on,” McBride said, speaking as a citizen on behalf of the association. “Our main purpose is to keep the level of staffing we have.”

Tags: Fire Chief Javier Mainar, San Diego Association for Lifeguards, san diego city deficit, San Diego city fire services, San Diego city lifeguarding, SDNN

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