Fireworks won't be displayed over Sippican Harbor this Fourth of July as fundraisers fell $15,000 short of the amount needed to stage the celebration.

Members of the town’s Fireworks Committee had until Friday, June 6 to raise $50,000.

“You can’t say we haven’t tried,” Selectman and Fireworks Committee Chair Jody Dickerson said. “You name it. We’ve done it.”

Similar to last year, T-shirts were sold, a fundraising gala was held, area businesses collected cash donations and a letter campaign was held. Around this time last year, Dickerson said the donations were still rolling in. This year, that wasn’t the case.

At Selectmen’s June 3 meeting Dickerson said, “Last week we took in a little more than $1,000. Hopefully we can [reach the goal]. If not we’ll try again next year.”

Board members asked Dickerson if there was any way to reduce the cost of the display and celebration in light of the shortfall.

He said the costs were “fixed” and that the only corners to be cut would be to reduce the number of portable toilets from 10 to eight, however, that is no where near the amount needed to close the gap.

“We’ve looked at the figures and everything we have is fixed costs – it really is. There’s no where we can cut,” he said.

In addition to contracting a company to launch the fireworks, a police detail is needed, along with funds for music and waste facilities.

In 2013, the Marion Recreation Department took over raising the funds for the fireworks display. As the department’s director, Dickerson worked alongside fellow committee members Rochelle Erikson, Donna Hemphill and Patricia Kelleher to raise the money.

The committee was formed after the 2012 display was cancelled due to a lack of money. All donations will be kept in an account for next year’s fireworks. If someone had donated by check and would like to request a refund, call Marion Recreation at 774-217-8355.