Windsor July 4 fireworks fall victim to budget woes

<p>Windsor’s Fourth of July fireworks celebration has been cancelled, the victim of the town’s budget woes.</p><p>Windsor Council members, who are grappling with a shortfall in the budget, agreed Wednesday night not to fund this year’s fireworks show, which costs $28,000 to stage.</p><p>The fireworks display in Keiser Park, as in past years, was scheduled for July 3.</p><p>“I don’t think anyone will be surprised there aren’t fireworks. Things are different. Things are tight,” said Mayor Robin Goble, who noted that Santa Rosa and other cities have struggled to fund firework shows.</p><p>Councilwoman Debora Fudge, who has made fighting global warming a top priority, said: “It’s bad for climate change, those fireworks.”</p><p>“We also have a patriotism deficit,” added Councilman Steve Allen.</p><p>Santa Rosa’s fireworks show at the county fairgrounds is happening this year because police and fire unions and service clubs stepped forward to sponsor the celebration. But Goble said it’s too late for Windsor this year because of the deadlines for ordering of pyrotechnics and making other arrangements.</p><p>“Our decision last night put the kibosh on them for this year,” she said Thursday.</p><p>Council members said it is possible sponsors could be found to save the 2010 fireworks show.</p><p>This year’s Independence Day festivities were not expected to have vendors and other activities at Windsor’s Keiser Park, as in past years. The $28,000 was to cover the cost of fireworks, staffing and portable toilets.</p><p>Expansion of sports fields and other improvements are underway at Keiser Park, which played into the council’s decision. The park is scheduled to be closed to the public July 3, which would have restricted fireworks viewing to places such as nearby Windsor High School, a traditional spot to watch the show.</p><p>“It sounds like a perfect storm to cancel the fireworks,” said Councilman Sam Salmon.</p><p>Cities are enduring a decline in property and sales tax revenues. In Windsor’s case, there is a projected deficit of $117,000 for the coming fiscal year, even though more than $2 million in spending cuts were made over the past year to counter the loss of revenue.</p><p>The town is asking employee groups to consider several possibilities to help save more money, including taking a 1.4 percent pay cut, accepting a smaller contribution to their pension funds, or a one-week furlough each of the next two years.</p><p>Despite the belt tightening, Windsor officials say the town is in better shape than cities that have taken more drastic measures. “We are probably the most financially stable city in the county, if not number two,” said Fudge, who credited the town with having a very conservative approach to spending.</p><p>Windsor has $6.6 million in reserves and a proposed general fund, or core budget, of $25 million for the 2009-11 two-year budget.</p><p>But $3.1 million of the reserves are committed to balancing the general fund, according to the town’s fiscal guidelines. That leaves about $3.5 million to deal with one-time and discretionary items — everything from fireworks shows to road repaving, bike lanes and sponsorship of the Chamber of Commerce. That’s about $1 million less than programmed expenditures.</p><p>Working almost until midnight Wednesday, Town Council members were able to agree on about $2 million in expenditures that can be put off, including road, sidewalk and train crossing improvements.</p><p>Like other cities, Windsor is worried its fiscal outlook could soon be bleaker. City officials are nervous that the State of California, in seeking to balance its budget, could borrow municipal property tax revenues.</p><p>If, as expected, voters on May 19 reject statewide propositions aimed at bolstering the state budget, the League of California Cities is warning cities what they stand to lose. In Windsor’s case it’s about $500,000.</p><p>The council will hold budget workshops on May 14 and May 20 prior to formally adopting its 2009-11 budget on June 3.</p>