Fireworks are more than an exciting show of colorful lights, they are also a way that community organizations raise much-needed money, the chairman of the town’s Recreation Commission told selectmen last week.

There were no fireworks this Fourth of July after voters in March rejected a $10,000 warrant article in March. Last week Walter Smith asked selectmen to try again with another warrant article next year.

The Middle School enrichment program lost about $1,000, he said, and the Milford Community Athletic Association lost about $2,000 it would normally earn through concession sales; local restaurants and gas stations benefit from the crowds who spend money in town, he added.

For most of the past 20 years Milford has had a July 4 pyrotechnic display, but in March residents rejected a $10,000 warrant article by a vote of 920-692. The town held a bonfire instead.

“I liked the bonfire,” but it’s worth asking voters to fund fireworks again, said selectmen’s Chairman Tim Finan.

Bill Ruoff, the Department of Public Works director, also said voters should decide.

“I felt fireworks were a waste of money,” he said, “but Walter changed my mind” because of all the money spent by spectators.

There were supposed to be fireworks over Labor Day weekend, but the Veterans of Foreign Wars display was canceled because of what it called a paperwork problem.

– KATHY CLEVELAND