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Rolling Meadows mayor vows to save July 4 parade

Although Rolling Meadows pulled its funding for the annual July Fourth parade this year due to budget constraints, Mayor Tom Rooney is hoping to get a less-expensive, community-based parade off the ground and is looking for help from residents to make it happen.

In November, the city council voted to no longer put nearly $17,000 toward the annual parade in an effort to cut spending and bring down the property tax levy increase.

The decision did not technically cancel the parade, but without the city's financial backing the parade was basically dead. The parade has shrunk over the past several years.

However, Rooney has said the parade will go on, even if it has to be smaller this year.

“A parade is an integral part of the 4th of July. It's been tradition from the very beginning,” Rooney said. “What mayor or city council would want to go down as the ones who were there for the one year there wasn't a parade?”

Rooney has volunteered to coordinate the parade and in the latest city newsletter he said he'll be organizing a kazoo marching band with a few friends, but hopes they aren't the only ones there.

“There's no doubt it will be smaller, but my hope is that we can pull off something that still gives people a smile and still gives them a reason to come out,” Rooney said.

As far as saving police and fire overtime costs by not having them monitor the streets, Rooney said he's confident they'll be able to get by safely with volunteer crossing guards or other community volunteers.

The city is starting a separate Events Foundation to fundraise and pay for Fourth of July, Memorial Day and other similar events in the future, but it wasn't able to get off the ground in time this year, Rooney said.

No matter what happens with the parade, the city's Fourth of July fireworks will go on, officials said. Tentative plans have the parade still starting at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 4 as in the past and the fireworks at dusk.

Although Rooney has heard from a few people who are willing to help organize and participate in the parade, he is looking for more. He encourages residents who can't help to still come watch the parade.

Others interested in helping with the parade can contact Rooney at mayor@cityrm.org.

Rolling Meadows 4th of July parade funding cut

  Rolling Meadows High School flag corps walks in front of the marching band in the 2011 Rolling Meadows Fourth of July parade. George LeClaire/gleclaire@dailyherald.com
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