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Margate Fireworks in Holding Pattern
• City in search of funds for event
Tuesday,
April 7, 2009
Caught between budget cuts and a bad economy, some South Florida cities will be canceling Fourth of July Fireworks this year. Is Margate one of them?
Margate’s yearly July Fourth extravaganza cost between $25,000 and $30,000. Although Margate city officials are optimistic that sponsors may come forward with funds in time to save the event, they’ve set aside $14,000 to do something on the anniversary of our freedom, but aren’t quite sure what at this point.
At the April 1, 2009 city commission meeting, Commissioner Pam Donovan suggested that if the city ultimately has only $14,000 to spend on the July event, that officials might consider a family-oriented festival without fireworks. Residents in attendance weren’t convinced that Margate families would be drawn to an event with no fireworks and might consider celebrating in another town.
City Manager, Frank Porcella, who also sits as the Executive Director for the Margate Community Redevelopment Agency (MCRA), suggested bringing the matter before the MCRA to request funding for the event in an effort to make Margate’s Fourth of July celebration whole. City commissioners, all of whom comprise the MCRA Board, made a motion to discuss the matter at the next MCRA meeting April 13. Should the MCRA fund the event, it would pose no direct cost to Margate taxpayers.
Porcella said he spoke to city officials in neighboring municipalities with regards to a yearly rotation of fireworks as a cost savings measure, but was disappointed in no takers.
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