When City of Soledad announced an official Fourth of July celebration on June 11, they included an addendum at the bottom: "Note: No fireworks and no parade."
The show must go on—there will be live music, food booths, a best-dressed patriotic competition, games and more—but the highest-cost components were abandoned.
“The fireworks show is very expensive,” City Manager Megan Hunter said in a video statement. “It would have cost about $25,000 [for a 20-minute show]."
Instead, the city will be able to use those funds to maintain services like police, fire, and parks and recreation.
Soledad and its Fourth of July committee are hosting a free, family-friendly community event from noon-6pm on Saturday, July with other entertainment.
Earlier this month, Hunter pointed out the council approved an interim budget on June 10, adding the city was considering reducing spending once the council reviews the budget in August.
During the primary election in June, voters sank Soledad's Proposition A that would have added funding for its fire department. It received 49 percent of the vote, falling short of the two-thirds it needed to pass.
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