Survey Finds Grounds Managers Face Money and Manpower Problems

In an email survey of 31 properties, the Professional Grounds Management Society found money and manpower the two biggest challenges facing its members. Respondents' comments regarding their challenges included:

• ?EUR??,,????'??working with less endowment monies;
• managing new buildings and landscapes while maintenance budgets are cut;
• low wages for permanent staff leading to high turnover;
• general budget and maintenance;
• keeping good staff;
• finding conscientious, qualified manpower;
• lack of sufficient summer maintenance crews;
• not enough staff to get it all done."

PGMS is primarily composed of on-site grounds professionals for schools, colleges, cemeteries, parks, estates and other institutions. On average, survey respondents managed 129-acre properties.

On average, each property:

• has 1.5 supervisors who earn $19.33 an hour ($10.40-$36.46 range);
• has 2.5 foremen earning $13.39 ($9.00-$23.07 range)
• has 11.07 full-time employees earning $11.22 ($7.00-$14.35 range);
• hires an average 5.89 seasonal employees who are paid $8.28 (range is $6.00-$12.15).

For more info, visit www.pgms.org