If only Baywatch was still on the air… A plot line for the new episodes could describe how the lifeguards struggle to keep their jobs and save lives despite state budget cuts. There are dozens of local beaches in Santa Cruz County alone, but this spring there has only been enough money to fund four year-round employees to keep an eye on the beaches.
This year, the situation was saved by the Friends of State Parks, which issued a $60,000 check to help support the county’s lifeguard program this April. But that’s hardly enough to tide them over the long summer months, and the state budget, due out today, doesn’t bode well for lifeguards or state parks in general.
Previously, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had hoped to use offshore oil drilling revenues to fund state parks. Then BP had a little accident, and plans to drill for oil off the California coast came to a grinding halt.
Another plan to save parks and lifeguards is to increase vehicle registration fees by $18. This, however, requires a ballot measure, so it will have to wait until November. Until then the beach-goers—and their lifeguards—will be living on the edge. Read more at Santa Cruz Sentinel.
