Jul. 2--While local governments and private groups are cutting back on everything from health care to pool lifeguards, one expense has mostly been spared -- Independence Day fireworks.

Firework displays this weekend will go on as planned at most places, including Jones Beach and Citibank Park in Central Islip. The costliest Long Island show, a $100,000 extravaganza at Eisenhower Park last Saturday, was not affected by Nassau County's budget woes.

"We're probably the poorest judges of the economy," said M. Philip Butler, who is producing the show for Fireworks by Grucci, the Brookhaven company started by his wife's family. Butler said that many contracts for this year's shows were signed several years ago, when the economy was more robust.

Organizers say parades and Fourth of July fireworks appeal to residents and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, and that makes cancellation an unpopular move. "It's about quality of life," said James Faith, general manager of the Brookhaven Ampitheater, which has scheduled its annual fireworks show and pops concert on Saturday. Faith estimates the event will cost more than $80,000.

Some groups admit that they're having trouble raising money to light up the sky. Stars Over Montauk, a $26,000 show, has a shortfall because East Hampton Town has withdrawn its usual $5,000 grant, said Laraine Creegan, executive director of the Montauk Chamber of Commerce.

A popular East Hampton show, started by the late fireworks aficionado and writer George Plimpton at Three Mile Harbor nearly 30 years ago, was supposed to be canceled this year. Rossetti Perchik, a local architect, recently vowed to revive the $30,000 event, set for July 18, but he's far behind his fundraising goal.

At Jones Beach, an auto dealer dropped out as a sponsor of Saturday's $52,500 show, but Verizon, the Islanders and others stepped in, said George Gorman, deputy regional director for New York State parks.

At Grucci, Butler said the real test of the economy will come later in the summer, when wealthy party hosts in the Hamptons and the Connecticut shore decide whether to pay for private fireworks displays. Said Butler: "It has to be a lot worse than this before the really wealthy stop their parties."

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