At the last city council meeting, Mayor Guerrish stated that the cost of salaries for Pleasant View Beach lifeguards in 2024 would be approximately $68,000 for the season. At first glance, this amount seems very high. However, let’s calculate the total number of hours of operation for which lifeguards must be paid.
First, let’s review the schedule for Pleasant View Beach in North Hatley:
June 13 to August 3, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
51 days x 9 hours = 459 hours of beach surveillance.
Add 1 hour per day for arrival and departure = 51 hours.
August 4 to 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
14 days x 8 hours = 112 hours of beach surveillance.
Add 1 hour per day for arrival and departure = 14 hours.
August 23, 24, 30, and 31, as well as September 1: from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
4 days x 8 hours = 32 hours of beach surveillance.
Add 1 hour per day for arrival and departure = 4 hours
Reference: https://www.northhatley.org/fr/communaute/sports-et-loisirs/plage-et-tennis/
603 hours of beach surveillance + 69 hours without surveillance = 672 hours to be paid per season.
$68,000 / 672 hours = $101.19 per hour of operation.
On average, the price per hour of surveillance is $101.19.
How many lifeguards should be on duty at the beach at all times?
Obviously, the beach is very small. It all depends on the number of lifeguards needed during opening hours. That’s where the cost of managing the beach jumps significantly.
Can beach safety be ensured with only two lifeguards? If so, surveillance costs would be cut in half.
Let’s imagine that we have four lifeguards on duty at all times. In my opinion, that’s what’s currently being done at Pleasant View Beach. That seems like a “comfortable” number of lifeguards to me.
The hourly wage per lifeguard would then be $25.29 per hour. Subtract contributions, which vary between 12 and 15%. This brings the hourly wage down to $21.50 per lifeguard. This seems reasonable to me on the part of the municipality of North Hatley, considering that a McDonald’s employee earns $16 to $17 per hour.
The number of lifeguards on duty during opening hours has a direct impact on the operating costs of Pleasant View Beach. Last season, I was a daily user of the beach with my children. Of course, there is a “comfortable” number of lifeguards.
For example, if the number of lifeguards were reduced from four to two at all times, operating costs would drop from $68,000 to $34,000. It all depends on the level of comfort and safety we want to provide to the public.
If we break this down for the 675 residents of North Hatley, that comes to $100 per citizen to pay for lifeguards. One thing is certain: lifeguards are essential because they make life easier for parents and protect children’s lives.
In your opinion, how many lifeguards are needed to ensure the smooth operation of Pleasant View Beach?
Photo credit: Municipality of Hatley Township
Référence audio du conseil municipal : 1:43:40
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-xKw8RH-g3CPZkMWdBqr0Q2C1XYJc4uM/view?pli=1
