By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — International politics could have an impact on an extremely popular holiday in Naples.

The tariffs on imports from China will very likely bump up the cost of the Independence Day fireworks display on the Causeway.

However, that event is more than six months away. A lot could change on the political landscape between now and then.

The Naples Board of Selectmen decided rather than to downsize the pyrotechnic shows, the town would pay the extra 15%, provided the tariffs are still in place.

“The new, imposed tariffs from China have impacted fireworks costs,” Naples Town Manager John Hawley told the selectmen on Monday.

He had received a letter from the company that has the fireworks contract with the town.

“Due to the recent tariffs placed on imports coming from China, including fireworks, we have a couple of options for next year’s fireworks show,” Hawley said.

“We can either authorize a contract price increase of 15 percent, which is $1,350 more, or decrease the size of the show by that expense,” he said. 

Chairman Jim Grattelo asked when the pyrotechnics company ordered the fireworks.

He quipped that perhaps the U.S. president would change his mind about the tariffs before that ordering deadline.

In the end, the board voted, 4-0, to pay the 15 percent — only if the international tariffs are still in place.

In other business, a holiday that lands on the second Monday of the month will play into scheduling as well as the Monday that is two days from New Years Day. 

This year, the second Monday of November is Veterans’ Day.

“Due to the holiday on the second Monday in November, the board will not meet that night,” Hawley said. “The second Monday in December, I am away at a conference.”

For the last two months of the year, the selectmen will meet only once a month. Those meetings are: Nov. 18 and Dec. 16.