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Many Cash-Strapped Cities Pulling Plug On Fireworks

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By NEIL JOHNSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 3, 2008

TAMPA - Tight budgets and rising fireworks prices might mean less pop and more fizzle in fireworks displays this Fourth of July.
Three cities that set off fireworks last year - Plant City, St. Pete Beach and Tarpon Springs - have canceled displays for this Fourth of July, all pressed by money constraints.

"It's not in the budget this year," said Gary Behnkey, St. Pete Beach human resource administrator.

The Treasure Island City Commission was expected to vote Monday night on an offer from a local business to pay for the community's fireworks show, which was on the verge of cancellation, said City Manager Reid Silverboard.

Plant City canceled its celebration when the major corporate sponsor, Bill Heard Chevrolet, pulled out. The dealership contributed $160,000 during the past six years. A show that cost $74,000 in 2007 now has only $14,000 in donations for 2008.

The town is still open to having the show should someone step forward with $35,000 or more to sponsor it, said City Manager David Sollenberger.

"Like all the other public agencies, we're trying to cope with tax reform," Sollenberger said.
Tarpon Springs decided to use the $22,500 budgeted for its 2008 fireworks to repair the city's emergency radio system.

However, the city is trying to work out a deal with a sponsor to get this year's event back on track.

Two of the cities that canceled their displays had accidents in 2007 when shells detonated prematurely and caused other shells at ground level to explode.

The explosion in St. Pete Beach caused a dozen minor injuries and broke 20 windows in a nearby motel. A similar accident in Treasure Island caused no injuries or serious damage.

Cities that do pay for displays might get less bang for their buck.

The Chinese "raised their price and it's getting harder to get them into this country," said Bill Bahr, president of the Pyrotechnics Guild International, a trade and interest group for the fireworks industry.

Insurance and the risk of accidents are making importers more wary of transporting fireworks, Bahr said.

In some cases, corporate donations are rescuing displays that otherwise would be canceled.

Money for Largo's fireworks was cut from the city's budget, but Bay Star Group will pick up most of the costs for the next three years, said Joan Byrne, director of recreation, parks and art for the city.

"We would not be having fireworks if we did not have a corporate sponsor," Byrne said.

In St. Petersburg, Clear Channel Broadcasting opened its corporate wallet to pay for three years of fireworks at The Pier. The shows will go through 2009.

Other fireworks displays in the Tampa Bay area will go on, some because they already were in budgets.

That's the case in Clearwater, Gulfport and Temple Terrace.

Safety Harbor will have its pyrotechnics display this year, but there's no guarantee money will be in the budget for 2009, said Brad Purdy, city spokesman. Budget talks get under way in July.

Fireworks in Tampa will be put on by Channelside Bay Plaza. The city provides support services but the entertainment complex handles the pyrotechnics.

In Pasco County, the fair association puts on fireworks in Dade City, mainly through corporate donations.

But the association is seeing less money from businesses this year, said President Wilton Simpson. The association plans to expand this year's entertainment and will cover any difference if private donations fall short, he said.

The Westfield Brandon mall will put on its fireworks display again this year, said marketing director Dawn Richter. The event is sponsored by the mall and no change is expected, despite a shrinking economy.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.

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