Council commits to July 4 fireworks purchase while asking staff to cut costs and return with plan

The Paso Robles City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 15 to authorize staff to secure the pyrotechnic portion of the city’s July 4 celebration while directing staff to return at the next council meeting with a revised budget and cost‑reduction options.

City staff presented a summary of the July 4, 2024 event and estimated the cost of a similar 2025 celebration at about $170,000. The city’s planned contribution was $65,000 and Travel Paso had committed $35,000, leaving an estimated funding gap of roughly $70,000 if the event scope remained the same. Staff told the council that the pyrotechnic contract alone requires an early commitment, and that the fireworks portion is expected to cost between $42,000 and $45,000.

Councilmembers and staff discussed multiple ways to reduce costs — including shortening event hours, reducing the number of bands and performances, and adjusting staffing start times. Councilmember Jim Gregory said he would seek additional contributions from county discretionary supervisors and from prior private sponsors to help close the gap. Several councilmembers urged that staff pursue cost reductions while preserving the fireworks show if possible.

Council authorized staff to commit to the fireworks contract now so vendors could be secured, and directed staff to return with a refined budget and proposed reductions at the next meeting. The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff emphasized that staging, crowd control and vendor logistics drive much of the event cost and that some expenses — notably public‑safety staffing and pyrotechnics setup security — would not fall proportionally with a smaller program.

If the city chooses to reduce the scope, staff said they would seek further sponsor commitments and report back to council with specific budget scenarios and a timeline that respects vendor deadlines.