To save money, several South Florida cities are scaling back Independence Day fireworks.
Fourth of July fireworks displays may fizzle in South Florida as some cities look for ways to save money.
The city of Weston will do without fireworks for the second year in a row while officials in Coral Gables haven't made a decision about whether to bring back their fireworks display.
TRIMMING COSTS
And on Tuesday, Fort Lauderdale city officials discussed how to trim the $124,500 cost for fireworks.
Fort Lauderdale Commissioners told staff to negotiate with the vendor and look for ways to bring down the cost to about $80,000.
''I don't think we can possibly increase this to 125,'' Mayor Jack Seiler said. ``I think it's out of the question.''
The city should explore public-private partnerships to help pay for the event, said Steve Glassman, president of the Central Beach Alliance in Fort Lauderdale.
''People on the beach really love the event,'' he said in an interview, although viewers were disappointed by last year's show when the finale didn't happen. ``It's pretty much a tradition.''
Last year, the show cost about $80,000 but the city got a refund of half after the show petered out.
Last year's vendor wasn't interested in the job so the city sought bids and only received one complete one.
The high cost is due in part to a decrease in supply after the Olympics.
''Every firework made in China was used for that,'' said Kirk Buffington, the city's procurement director.
A LUXURY
As city officials across South Florida are talking about closing city halls on Fridays, cutting positions and in some cases even forcing layoffs to trim millions of dollars from budgets, fireworks may be seen as a luxury.
''We have to save our money for other things,'' said Maria Higgins Fallon, spokeswoman for the city of Coral Gables.
Last year Coral Gables axed its fireworks display to save money. ''There has been talk to go ahead and do fireworks,'' Higgins Fallon said. ``It will probably be decided in the next couple of weeks.''
Here's the status of fireworks displays in some cities:
• Fireworks are on this year at Bayfront Park in Miami and in Miami Beach.
• In Weston, residents can still go to a parade in the morning but the city no longer has fireworks at night, an event that cost about $100,000 including entertainment, law enforcement and other expenses, city manager John Flint said.
• The show will go on in Pembroke Pines, where the city spends about $20,000 on fireworks.
''We get a huge crowd so $20,000 I don't think is way out of line,'' Mayor Frank Ortis said, though the city is looking for sponsors to help pay for it.
• Hollywood city commissioners on April 15 will discuss whether to have fireworks.