Part of 2009 budget cuts
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Budget cuts have forced the City of Colorado Springs to cancel its annual Independence Day fireworks show at Memorial Park.
In January, city council was forced to cut $16.8 million from the city's budget.
The "Fabulous Fourth" event and fireworks show are casualties of those cuts.
In total city officals said they will save between $80,000 and $100,000 by not sponsoring the event.
"What many people do not realize is that the Fourth of July celebration is not just the fireworks. It is a ton of overtime from both police and fire, and parks people to set up the park the day before, host the event and then clean up," city spokesperson Sue Skiffington-Blumberg said.
She said in the past the city would raise money for the fireworks and donate services like police and fire for the "Fabulous Fourth" event. But she added that is not feasible this year due to the current economic climate.
"The builders, the banks and private donors that normally have money to give us do not right now so it goes much deeper than just the city itself," Skiffington-Blumberg said.
In light of the cancellation, Fort Carson is stepping up and will host a Fourth of July celebration on Friday, July 3, at Iron Horse Park. The event is free and open to the public.
As for when Memorial Park's celebration may return, Skiffington-Blumberg said it is hard to say.
"This whole situation with how our tax base is working and sales tax revenue being so lean, it is going to have to improve substantially before we can add things back in," Skiffington-Blumberg said.
The last time the city cancelled the fireworks show was in 2002 because of high fire danger.
Fort Carson Fourth of July Celebration
- Friday, July 3
- Iron Horse Park
- Located on Post
- Festivities Begin at 4 p.m.
- Free and Open to the Public
Click on the movie camera/video icon to view the story as it aired on FOX 21 News.
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