Many Minn. Cities Spending More on Fireworks

This Independence Day, many Minnesota cities are budgeting for bigger fireworks displays.

RES Specialty Pyrotechnics of Belle Plaine does displays for some four dozen Minnesota cities. Owner Steve Coman says that this year, nearly half a dozen new cities signed up.

He also says that returning clients are paying for bigger, brighter displays.

"They like to provide something very good for their community," Coman said. "And if they have a little funding available, they try to add a little more to the show, give us more creative licensing to the show."

The city of Bloomington is one of Coman's biggest community clients. According to City Recreation Supervisor Mark Morrison, the city is spending $27,000 on its fireworks display this year. By comparison, 10 years ago, it spent roughly $14,000.

Morrison explains that the steady growth in Fourth of July spending is because Independence Day celebrations are the biggest community gatherings for many cities.

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