Proposal to Increase Pay, Provide Bonuses for Lifeguards at Milwaukee County Pools, Beaches, and Aquatic Facilities Advances

MILWAUKEE – Members of Milwaukee County’s Personnel Committee unanimously approved a measure Friday that would provide significant pay increases and bonuses to lifeguards at County pools and aquatic facilities, and pay all training costs, to help recruit and retain employees that are needed to ensure facilities remain open during the summer months.

“Families should be able to count on our pools, beaches and aquatic facilities being open in the summer months. These facilities are important to local communities across the County and I’m pleased to see that my fellow Supervisors are willing to provide additional funding to recruit and retain lifeguards,” said Supervisor Logsdon.

Only four county-operated aquatic facilities are open for the 2021 season: Cool Waters Aquatic Park in Greenfield Park, Schulz Aquatic Park in Lincoln Park, Sheridan Park pool, and Wilson Park pool. No lifeguards are available to staff Bradford Beach this summer due primarily to the lack of individuals qualified for open water lifeguarding, and McKinley Beach is closed while officials study how to make that beach safer in the wake of several tragic drowning deaths.

The resolution authorizes a pay increase for all lifeguard positions of three dollars per hour per step of the pay grade, except for the highest step of each position, which will be increased by four dollars per hour, effective August 8, 2021.

The resolution also authorizes a $100 referral bonus for any lifeguard hired before June 1, 2021 who refers someone that is successfully hired for any lifeguard position for the 2021 and 2022 seasons, a $200 per month bonus for all new and incumbent lifeguards for each month of work successfully completed, and a $200 bonus for any lifeguard who returns for the 2022 season.

The Board of Supervisors will consider the resolution on July 29.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.