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As beaches re-open after stay-at-home orders are lifted, beach departments across the country are facing a triple whammy of challenges:
- Massive budget shortfalls and staffing cuts,
- Increased costs for cleaning and security, and
- huge crowds of people eager to get outdoors and recreate.
Thus far, communities have faced these challenges with very little support from states or the federal government. ASBPA is working with communities across the country to advocate for federal support to ensure beaches can be healthy and safe places to recreate this summer.
See our letter to congress asking for help for coastal and beach counties and municipalities: Letter to Congress on Coronavirus Stimulus Needs (pdf 268KB)
LA County Department of Beaches & Harbors marina maintenance workers David Henriquez, left, and Leonel Salcedo with a new beach rules sign at Torrance Beach, for May 13, 2020 reopening of the beaches. (Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
With many beach departments funded through some type of tourism generated revenue – hotel and occupancy taxes, local sales taxes, parking fees, etc. – the past three months have seen their budgets crater. In many places revenue has dropped 90% or more, which has led to huge staffing cuts including maintenance staffing, safety and security (e.g., lifeguards and beach patrol), and seasonal employees. Communities that have plans to limit beach access through offering fewer beach badges or spaced out parking spaces, are further reducing their beach departments’ budgets. While a few communities can access some state coastal funding to offset losses, state budgets have also been decimated. The $2 trillion “CARES Act” only provides a limited pot of money to state agencies and that was designated for expenses related to coronavirus that had not been previously budgeted for, so cannot be used to make up for lost revenue.
At the same time, beach communities face new expenses related to operating a beach during a pandemic. From frequent sanitizing of facilities (showers, bathrooms, picnic tables, benches), to signage documenting what to do and what is safe, to increased beach patrol security to enforce social distancing, beaches are seeing work loads and costs increase. Some of this can be paid for through CARES Act funds or through FEMA as part of the declared federal emergency, but these funds can take time to be approved and staffing is needed now. Overseeing these efforts is putting increased burden on beach managers who are having to layoff operations staff.
Finally, as beaches open – some at the directive of their state’s Governor before the community has even had a chance to develop health and safety plans – they are seeing huge crowds of people. And while well-maintained, wide beaches can be good places for socially distant recreation and exercise, pent up demand can lead to attendance surges beyond what is safe – particularly when beach patrols and lifeguards have been cut and seasonal employees can’t be hired. Whether these numbers stay high through the summer as other entertainment outlets (movie theaters, sports events) stay closed, or drop as the opening enthusiasm wanes is unknown. But this makes planning even harder. Should a beach department plan for a boom year, an average year or a bust year? How should they invest limited resources?
LA County Department of Beaches & Harbors marina maintenance workers install a new beach rules sign on a restroom wall at Redondo Beach. (Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
State organizations are trying to address these challenges at a state level. The ASBPA Texas chapter has been encouraging the TX General Land Office to provide more operation funds to Texas beaches. ASBPA partner organization, South Carolina Beach Advocates has developed a resolution asking the governor to “evaluate re-open orders and economic revitalization strategies”. Other state organizations are undertaking similar efforts. ASBPA will be complementing these efforts by leading a national campaign to ensure Congress provides funding to cash-strapped beach communities and reduces local cost-share requirements for federal programs upon which beach communities rely. This is a challenging time for beach communities and we need the federal government to step up.
See our letter to congress asking for help for coastal and beach counties and municipalities: Letter to Congress on Coronavirus Stimulus Needs (pdf 268KB)