Fireworks displays in Mets are funded at a rate of $25 annually, as per current budget, with Syracuse Fire Chief advocating for a significant increase in expenditure.
Syracuse Fire Department Proposes Increase in Pyrotechnic Permitting Fees
The Syracuse Fire Department has proposed a new pyrotechnic permitting fee structure to recover personnel costs associated with ensuring the safety of fireworks displays, a move driven by budget cuts to the department's overtime funding.
Currently, Syracuse charges a flat fee of $25 per event for pyrotechnics permits, a figure significantly lower than fees in other upstate New York cities such as Rochester ($294) and Binghamton ($286). The proposed new fee structure would see a tiered system implemented, with $75 for one-hour inspections of smaller cold sparkler displays, and up to $300 for large fireworks shows like those at NBT Bank Stadium.
The proposed increase aims to align fees more realistically with actual city expenses associated with permitting and safety oversight of pyrotechnic events. City Auditor Alexander Marion discovered during an audit last year that the Syracuse Mets were paying just $25 for a whole season of fireworks shows, a cost that has been shouldered by city taxpayers.
The biggest impact will be on the Syracuse Mets, as they have been paying just $25 for a whole season of fireworks shows instead of the per-event fee. Under the new fee structure, the Mets' annual permit cost could jump from $25 to $7,500 based on 25 shows in a season. This is due to the fact that the fire department keeps an engine company on standby for stadium fireworks shows, with each event costing city taxpayers approximately $2,000.
The proposal for the new fee structure is expected to be presented to the council's next voting meeting on Aug. 11, but may be pushed to its first meeting in September due to additional legal research. The cuts to the fire department's overtime budget have driven Chief Monds to take action to help pay for extra services they provide.
It's important to note that the proposal follows a significant brush fire last month caused by a fireworks show at the Syracuse Mets game, but the chief said that fire was not the impetus for the proposal. The new permitting fee structure would cost the city's Minor League Baseball team thousands of dollars for fireworks displays, a cost that would be shifted from taxpayers to event organizers.
In summary, the Syracuse Fire Department is proposing a new pyrotechnic permitting fee structure to recover personnel costs for ensuring fireworks displays are safe. The proposed increase aims to align fees more realistically with actual city expenses associated with permitting and safety oversight of pyrotechnic events. If approved by council, the new fee structure would go into effect next year.
City Auditor Alexander Marion, during a city audit, discovered that the discrepancy between the Syracuse Mets' payment for a whole season of fireworks shows ($25) and the actual city expenses associated with permitting and safety oversight ($7,500 under the proposed new fee structure) is a significant issue in the city's finance, particularly concerning the business sector. The proposal for the new pyrotechnic permitting fee structure, if approved by the council, would require event organizers, including the Syracuse Mets, to shoulder the costs of fireworks displays, thereby addressing the financial imbalance between city expenses and permit fees in the city's business operations.
