Ka-blew it!

Mammoth residents were in an uproar this past week over a proposed cut to the annual Fourth of July fireworks show at Crowley Lake. The uproar was largely the result of a misunderstanding about the date of the show on the chopping block, thanks to an incendiary story that ran last week in the Fifty Center.

At the May 15 Town Council meeting, town staff presented the elimination of the 2014 Fourth of July fireworks show, not this year’s fireworks show, as one of ten balancing recommendations to close the projected $626,551 Fiscal Year 2013-14 budget shortfall.

Other options included delaying the hiring of a Community and Economic Development Director by six months, delaying the Police station remodel, reducing funding for Road Rehab, and eliminating funding for the Chamber of Commerce.

The 2014 fireworks show is budgeted at $34,650, and could possibly be replaced by a $5,000 POPS in the Park music show, and $5,000 Chamber of Commerce multi-day, town-wide Fourth of July celebration, saving $24,650 for the 2013-14 budget.

Said Mayor Matthew Lehman of eliminating the 2014 fireworks show, “To me, that’s just not really an option. It’s only $24,000 in savings, and it brings so many people to town.”

Councilmember John Eastman agreed. “As far as I’m concerned, I absolutely will not be voting in favor of cutting the fireworks show,” he said. “I think we have the money to pay for that. I’m kind of upset that it’s even been listed as an option.” Eastman went one further, expressing his lack of support for any of the proposed balancing recommendations. “I think we can get that money in places other than programs and staffing,” he said.

As for this year’s fireworks show, Town Recreation Manager Stu Brown promised another spectacular display at Crowley Lake on Thursday, July 4. Funding for the 2013 Fourth of July fireworks show was derived from the FY 2012-13 Town budget, and will provide High Definition Fireworks, which are designed with a wide-screen camera in mind, beginning at 9:15 p.m. and scheduled to last 20 minutes.

(Photo: Penderworth)