After canceling the annual Fourth of July fireworks show, officials in a small central Massachusetts town are receiving sharp criticism from residents angry that their donations for the celebration will not be refunded. At the same time, outside observers at a conservative-leaning nonprofit are calling for an investigation into the town’s handling of the funds. 

Rutland officials announced Wednesday that the town’s Independence Day fireworks display, parade, and concert were all being canceled. The Fourth of July Committee had raised enough funds for the events, but the town does not have enough public safety personnel to adequately staff the celebrations, officials wrote in a message to the community. 

“Due to anticipated staffing limitations, our Police and Fire Chiefs have determined that they cannot safely support both the event and routine emergency services at the same time. Moving forward under these conditions would put both attendees and the broader community at risk,” officials wrote. 

The town explored options to bring in “outside personnel,” but doing so without a “unified command structure and coordinated operations” would in fact create additional safety issues, officials wrote. 

They said specifically that the decision was based solely on public safety concerns. 

“It is not related to funding availability or intended as a response to any community viewpoints,” officials wrote. 

In an election earlier this month, Rutland voters rejected a tax override that would have allowed the town to assess an extra $3 million in real estate and personal property taxes for fiscal year 2027. A total of 1,040 voters rejected the override, while 833 supported it. Voters also rejected efforts to assess an additional $1.1 million in taxes in fiscal year 2028 and $1 million in fiscal year 2029 by similar margins. 

In a statement posted to social media after the election, town officials warned of impending cuts that could affect building hours, staff availability, and public safety.

“Regardless of how you voted at the polls, please remember that there are real people who will be affected by the budget cuts – both residents and our employees,” officials wrote at the time. 

When the town announced the cancellation of the Fourth of July festivities this week on Facebook, its post was inundated with comments from angry residents. The town’s official account responded to one comment, directly tying the cancellation to the override vote. 

“The vote has already taken place. The Town was very transparent in sharing that the 4th of July festivities would be impacted if the override vote were to fail. Now that the override has not passed, the 4th activities are the first noticeable cut as we continue to prepare for decreased services beginning July 1st,” the town wrote on Facebook. 

Incensing residents further is the fact that the town will not be refunding donations. Rutland collects donations to fund its Fourth of July celebrations every year, with last year’s events costing an estimated $55,000. 

In explaining their decision to deny refunds, officials said that funds had already been used for event-related expenses like “printing, deposits, and fundraising costs.” All the donations are held in a municipal gift account for the sole purpose of supporting the Independence Day events, they said. 

“Because funds are pooled and expended collectively, it is not feasible to determine or return individual contributions. Instead, all remaining funds will be preserved to support future 4th of July celebrations,” officials wrote. 

Some annual events, such as a “Junior Olympics,” road race, pancake breakfast, and volleyball tournament will still be taking place as planned. Officials indicated that funds raised from these events will be kept to support future Fourth of July celebrations. 

After Rutland announced the cancellation, The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance stepped into the fray. The group issued a press release Wednesday condemning the town’s decision. Executive Director Paul Craney called the decision “inexcusable” and called on local leaders to immediately resign. 

“These officials pushed for an override vote, lost, and are now extracting political payback by taking away something the town enjoys during the 250th anniversary of the nation’s independence,” Craney said in a statement. 

“They are acting this way for political purposes, to get back at the very people they are supposed to serve. The cancellation is not justified and the refusal to return the donations that private citizens and businesses gave for this year’s firework celebration on the 4th of July is repugnant,” he added. 

Craney urged Attorney General Andrea Campbell to investigate what he called an “attempted confiscation” of funds. 

Rutland Town Administrator Heather Butler issued the following statement Friday:

It is unfortunate that the Town, represented by the 4th of July Committee—a group of residents who have poured their hearts and souls into creating decades of memories for their neighbors—has been portrayed in a negative light for following Massachusetts General Law.

For clarification, donations collected for Rutland’s 4th of July celebration are accepted under Massachusetts General Law (M.G.L. c. 44, § 53A) and held in a dedicated municipal gift account. Under state law and Department of Revenue guidance, these funds must be used solely for the purpose for which they were given. As a result, the Town does not have the legal authority to refund donations once they have been accepted. Even the administrative act of issuing refunds would constitute an expenditure that is not consistent with the purpose for which the donations were made.

The current balance in the account is less than $50,000—not the significantly inflated figures that have been reported. Rutland has relatively few businesses in town, and while the Town is grateful for several larger contributions, the majority of donations come from residents, with the average donation being approximately $25. Many contributions are collected through community activities such as the Town-wide Yard Sale.

There have been years in the past when 4th of July events were canceled, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, and donations were not refunded. Instead, they were retained and later used to support future celebrations, in accordance with the same legal framework.

While we understand that some donors may be disappointed, the Town is required to follow state law, which ensures that all contributions continue to support the community purpose for which they were intended.