TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online
As Budgets Bust, Officials Fear 4th May Bring Risky Booms
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: June 27, 2008
TAMPA - As cash-strapped governments and community organizations cinch their belts in this struggling economy, fireworks displays are among the offerings falling by the wayside. And as expensive displays dwindle or disappear, more and more backyard pyromaniacs will be putting on their own shows, authorities say.
The fear is that in the hands of nonprofessionals, fingers could be sacrificed.
Budget crunches are affecting everyone and as cutbacks take their toll, fireworks shows may be sliced. Several communities in the Bay area have slashed funding for holiday pyrotechnics. In other communities private funds have replaced government money to keep the displays going.
Plant City and Treasure Island have withdrawn funding for their traditional Fourth of July fireworks displays because of tight budgets.
In Tarpon Springs, the fireworks show was close to being canceled, but was saved by an $18,000 private donation last month. The city had taken the $22,500 reserved for Fourth of July fireworks and used it to repair a municipal emergency radio station.
Corporate sponsorships pay for fireworks displays in Largo and St. Petersburg, and Clearwater has continued its bankroll of the annual display at Coachman Park. In all, about 20 Bay area communities are putting on fireworks shows.
Budget Puts Kibosh On Kaboom
A joint fireworks display for residents of Indian Shores, Redington Shores and North Redington Beach, however, has been canceled because of budget cuts.
The cutbacks trouble fire rescue officials.
"Unfortunately, as communities are being forced to cancel professional fireworks displays," said Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade, "there is a concern that residents will take it upon themselves to do fireworks displays in their own neighborhoods."
He said that is dangerous.
"Even though the law allows the fireworks vendors to sell fireworks to residents, you still have to sign a piece of paper that basically is a lie," he said. The paper says the buyer "is going to use the fireworks for legal purposes which are quarrying, farming and railroading."
"And," he said, "I haven't seen any farms or railroads in my neighborhood recently, but there are sure a lot of fireworks going off."
Bell's Fireworks owner Robert Stahl said there is a slight downturn in large-scale professional shows offered by his company across the Southeast, but the big crunch is a year away.
"It's not as big a problem this year as it may be next year," he said. "I believe many of the cities factored in shortfalls this year," and left enough in budgets for fireworks displays. "But I don't know where we're going to be next year, because of budget cuts."
People Buy Their Own
Typically, when governments drop the ax on frills like fireworks, businesses and community organizations take up the slack, he said. But the economic downturn is hitting everyone, he said, and that may derail the usual displays until the economy rebounds.
While that part of the 25-year-old fireworks business ebbs, he said, the retail market flows.
"When you have something traditional for 15 to 20 years and all of a sudden, the community can't afford it, private individuals purchase their own fireworks," he said
Especially around holidays, he said. "People tend to forget about their problems and try to celebrate and have a good day."
WFLA News Channel 8 reporter Samara Sodos contributed to this report. Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.
TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online Member Agreement | Privacy Statement | Work With Us
