AXIOS (Josephine Walker) - Small towns get burned by fireworks bills
America's 250th birthday is shaping up to be a red, white and blue fireworks bonanza — for towns that can afford it. Why it matters: As cities compete for bigger, brighter anniversary displays, smaller municipalities are getting priced out — or learning there simply aren't enough crews or equipment to go around. The big picture: Blown away by the costs of competing with larger cities, some towns have resorted to choosing new dates farther from the holiday or crowdsourcing donations. - But a few have canceled shows , including Hinesburg, Vermont, where officials budgeted $13,500 for fireworks, but were gobsmacked when they were told they'd need to pay a minimum of $20,000 this year. What they're saying: "We've had a lot of…