Fireworks shrink as budget stays stagnant

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NAUGATUCK — The borough’s annual Fourth of July celebration is set to go off with a bang again this summer, even if it is a smaller one.

The Board of Mayor and Burgesses awarded the bid for the annual fireworks show last week for $13,500 to Atlas Advanced Pyrotechnics, which is based in New Hampshire.

Public Works Director James Stewart told the board that this year’s show will have significantly fewer fireworks than last year.

Each year the borough sets a price of $13,500 and asks firework companies what they can do for that price, Stewart said. Most of the money for the fireworks, $10,000, is typically paid for through the borough budget. The remainder is raised by the Parks and Recreation Department.

The borough received two bids for this year’s show with Atlas supplying the most shells, 1,460, Stewart said. That is more than 300 fewer shells than last year, he said.

“In addition to the decrease in numbers, they are also shrinking the size of the shells to make sure they can keep a show that last 20 minutes,” Stewart said.

Stewart plans to ask for an additional $1,500 going forward for a larger fireworks show.