Sparking outrage among taxpayers and spurring calls for reform, taxpayers in a Democrat-run city are drowning in debt while lifeguards rake in staggering salaries exceeding $500,000 annually.
Over 100 LA lifeguards collected a jaw-dropping $70.8 million last year, with dozens earning more than $200,000 each in the Democrat-controlled state of California.
Meanwhile, essential fire and police services face brutal budget cuts, leaving citizens wondering who is minding taxpayer money on the liberal West Coast.
According to a bombshell report, the top-earning lifeguard, Fernando Boiteux, received an astounding $523,351 in total compensation.
This is not an isolated case. In 2024, 134 lifeguards earned at least $200,000, with 34 receiving compensation packages of $300,000 or more.
These included generous benefits and overtime, a level of compensation that most hardworking Americans can only dream of.
These government employees are not just making a comfortable living – they are positioned to become millionaires at taxpayer expense.
According to the report. “County lifeguards like Boiteux can retire relatively early at 50, with plenty of time to pursue other professional projects, while collecting defined pension benefits for years to come.”
The rampant spending occurs amid a fiscal crisis in Los Angeles County, which recently passed a $47.9 billion budget requiring many departments to reduce their spending by 3%.
Despite facing financial shortfalls, bloated lifeguard salaries remain untouched while property tax revenue plummets and critical public safety services face the chopping block.
In addition, OpenTheBooks.com CEO John Hart said, “Lifeguards who risk their lives protecting the public deserve to be well compensated, but paying them more than $500,000 may be unsettling to taxpayers who are drowning in debt.”
Los Angeles Democrat Mayor Karen Bass has demanded additional budget cuts from the Fire Department, potentially forcing the closure of 16 fire stations.
“Bass wanted to cut even more,” revealed one source briefed on the meeting.
The Fire Department has already faced $17.6 million in cuts, severely compromising its ability to respond to emergencies while wildfires threaten California communities.
The Wall Street Journal revealed how non-competitive contracts and cozy union relationships contribute to these exorbitant payouts.
“In 2009 the city of Santa Monica signed a 10-year, $25 million contract with the county for lifeguard services,” reported the outlet.
This contract was extended in 2019 for an additional $17 million without competitive bidding—a classic example of government waste enabled by liberal policies.
The consequences for public safety are dire. While lifeguards collect their windfall, the Los Angeles Fire Department faces devastating cuts, even as it struggles to handle the increasing number of emergency calls.
Democrat Supervisor Janice Hahn admitted, “This is a different budget. It’s reflective of us being in tough times,” yet liberal leaders have taken no action to address these astronomical lifeguard salaries.
For residents of Los Angeles County facing rising crime, devastating wildfires, and crumbling infrastructure, these lifeguard salaries represent everything wrong with Democrat governance.
Until fiscal responsibility returns to California, taxpayers will continue footing the bill for this liberal spending spree while essential services disappear.
