Fourth of July is still six months away, but Cupertino leaders already are debating whether to bring back a popular fireworks display that got cancelled last year due a multi-million dollar budget deficit.
In 2023, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration audited Cupertino and determined it had improperly entered a decades-long sales tax agreement with Apple, which is headquartered in the city. Cupertino leaders had prepared to set aside $56.5 million from its budget to pay back the disputed sales tax dollars, cutting funding on several community services, including last year’s fireworks show.
Then in October 2024 the department agreed to let Cupertino keep roughly $74.5 million in Apple sales tax revenue it generated over the past two years. The city council will decide in the upcoming months how to distribute the money back into next year’s budget, which is finalized in June.
The Cupertino City Council voted this week to create a subcommittee made up of Vice Mayor Kitty Moore and Councilmember Ray Wang to explore the logistics of bringing back the fireworks, including which vendors to use, where to host the event and how many staff hours will be needed. The council also agreed to tentatively set aside $140,000 in next year’s budget to use for the display.
The decision garnered support from majority of the council, including Mayor Liang Chao, Councilmember Moore and Wang, who agreed the city should at least look into the possibility of hosting a show. However, Councilmember Sheila Mohan said she opposed the idea of shooting off fireworks in the city because of environmental and fire hazards.
The fireworks were popular among many Cupertino residents, who said they enjoyed having a dazzling display close to home.
“We should have a subcommittee to look at this and understand (city staff’s) constraints … to understand what the vendors are able to do, and what the liabilities are,” Wang said.
But Mohan said she is completely against having fireworks in the city, especially after fires burned through Southern California a few weeks ago. The fires were caused by a combination of dry weather conditions and powerful winds, but fireworks are a hazard because they can easily ignite flammable materials.
“To even suggest or think about fireworks, which could lead to all kind of risks, is completely irresponsible,” Mohan said.
No matter what the council decides, Parks and Recreation Director Rachelle Sander said there are many factors to consider when planning for fireworks. Sander said it will be even more challenging since the Hyde Middle School field, which was the site of previous firework shows, is closed for construction.
The city will have to not only find a space, but make sure it is approved by the local fire department and that there is enough people to staff the event.
“It’s a much bigger plan than it sounds,” Sander said. “When we have a site, it’s great. But when we have to pick a new site, there are a lot of logistics that have to go with it.”
Fireworks aren’t the only item the council is using from the $74.5 million in Apple sales tax. In November 2024, the City Council voted to allocate $10 million from that money into a one-time CalPERs payment, which is a retirement benefit system for city employees.