Delta Township cuts fireworks again, blames ‘No’ vote on millage

Delta Township canceled, for two years in a row, Fourth of July fireworks after receiving $3.4 million in federal COVID-19 money and an additional $10 million COVID state grant in 2023. The 2025 cancelation announcement came just two weeks after voters turned down a millage twice in six months, according to the Lansing State Journal.

The canceled fireworks display for America’s 250th year celebration is referenced in Delta Township’s 2026 budget as a $39,600 expense that was cut.

“Budget was reduced to remove the fireworks ($39,000) and community awards ($14,000),” the budget said. “If the fireworks were to move forward, not only would the $39,000 need to be added back to the budget, the estimate from Eaton County on the overtime for police services based on 2024 amounts was $50,000”

The cuts were made even though additional revenue from state grants totaled 18.9% of Delta Township’s budget in 2024 and increased to 19.52% in 2026.

The budget also notes that the township will experience a $428,000 increase in property tax revenue this year.

The budget summary for 2025 stated the township was expecting $21.31 million in revenue, a 3.5% decrease from the previous year and a five percent increase in expenditures set at $1.14 million more than the previous year.

“The General Fund budget recommendation includes revenues of $21,732,600 and expenditures totaling $21,732,600. This is an expenditure reduction of $2,130,000 from the 2025 adopted budget,” stated the 2026 budget.

There aren’t enough law enforcement agencies through mutual aid to protect the fireworks event, Brian Reed, township manager for Delta Township, wrote in an email to Michigan Capitol Confidential.

“The fireworks are no longer being held because there are not enough law enforcement officers available through mutual aid to provide adequate police protection for the event,” Reed said. 

In previous years, nearby police departments provided protection for free, but that’s no longer possible because of staffing shortages, Reed said. 

“In addition, the millage failure resulted in the elimination of our county Eaton Sheriff patrol,” the township manager added.

While it might be possible to fundraise for the cost of the fireworks display, according to Reed, that was not the main reason for the cancellation.

Reed also noted that the COVID-19 money was spent on one-time infrastructure expenses such as capital improvement projects, fire trucks, and ambulances.

Under ‘Buildings and Grounds Appropriations’ in the general fund for 2026 is a line item titled, ‘Non-Discrimination Committee Per Diem’ and it includes:

• Juneteenth supplies and reading day items totaling $1,400

• Juneteenth concert series $2,800

• Coffee $2,000

• Employee appreciation/retreat $15,000

The township also spent $1,600 on signs and ads for Juneteenth. 

The board of trustees are allocated $10,000 on conferences and seminars in 2026, which was reduced from $17,000, according to the 2025 amended budget.

An additional $12,000 was spent on membership dues and fees, conferences, and seminars for parks and recreation employees.

There are also smaller allocations for conferences and seminars in other departments.

The township will pay the following for memberships more than $1,000 in 2026:

• Lansing Economic Area Partnership for $15,000

• Tri-County Regional Planning $16,200

• Michigan Municipal League $8,100

• Michigan Township Association $8,600

Although fireworks were canceled, the township still put on the following events:

• Fit & Frosty

• Daddy Daughter Dance

• Mother Son Dance

• Mother Daughter Dance

• Easter Bunny Meet & Greet

• Parks Scavenger Hunt

• Parks Bingo

• Music in the Park (3 including Juneteenth Event)

• Kids Day

• Crafts in the Park

The budget noted “Funds for Delta Rocks! All Summer Long which features smaller events throughout the summer that highlight Delta’s diversity, including Juneteenth related events.”

“The $1,948,200 under Bond Proceeds was the proceeds from a bond that we issued to build a non motorized pathway on St. Joe Hwy; that project was done in conjunction with a water main replacement project in the same area,” stated Reed.

The $1.95 million under bond proceeds, according to Delta’s township manager, was the proceeds from a bond that we issued to build a non-motorized pathway on St. Joe Hwy; that project was done in conjunction with a water main replacement project in the same area. He noted the township does not have a Juneteenth fund and the bond proceeds can only be used for those projects.

He added in 2024 they received $21,456 for Juneteenth donations.