County Freeholders To Fund Independence Day Fireworks

The Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders said it will be picking up the tab for the 2015 Independence Day fireworks display, after the county park commission chose not to finance the display in its budget

The Board of Chosen Freeholders, however, announced the board’s funding of the display would be a one-time only instance. Freeholder Director Mark Caliguire encouraged the Somerset County Park Commission to seek sponsorships for future fireworks displays.

“For this year only the Freeholders will step in and fund the fireworks that thousands of county residents enjoy,” Caliguire said. “This is an event celebrating our nation and our freedoms, so the Freeholder Board is going to find a way to subsidize it this year.”

Caliguire said the Freeholder Board makes an appropriation from the county’s budget annually to the park commission, but that does not determine line items. Fireworks, regardless of the event or display, would be considered line items, which are up to the discretion of the park commission, according to county officials.

Somerset County officials cite the lower participation in golf across the United States as a causal factor in the park commission’s drop in golf revenues, leaving its operating budget shorter than usual and affecting the Independence Day fireworks display.

“Over the last two years the county has increased the parks budget appropriation 17 percent to make up for any shortfalls,” Caliguire said. “And the Freeholder board will support the Park Commission in its efforts to transition to an operating budget with lower golf revenues. But that process must take place.”

The Pennsylvania-based Shaefer Pyrotechnics Inc. will be contracted to provide the fireworks for the display.