Colorado State University-Pueblo will be missing from the list of venues celebrating Independence Day this year.

Due to state funding cuts, the university will have no part in the celebration. Russ Meyer, the provost and vice president for academic affairs for the university, said this is not the time to be spending money on celebrations.

Meyer said because of the cuts, the school has gone from receiving $92 per credit hour to $32 hours per credit hour.

“The university went from having $50,000 a year to $15,000 this year,” he said. “We don’t have enough to pay overtime for running the event. The money should go to hiring teachers instead of paying for running the events.”

In the past, the university has held a celebration featuring the Pueblo Symphony Orchestra and Air Force Band and received help from the Sertoma Club. Meyer said this change will not affect the relationship the university has with the organizations.

Families still looking for fun things to do can go to “Rollin’ on the Riverwalk” from 4-10 p.m. at the Riverwalk at the intersection in Grand and Main.

Puebloharp.com said the Riverwalk is a 32 acre, urban, water based, multigenerational recreational environmental education Riverwalk amenity that is publicly owned and free of charge to all populations within the region.

The Web site says it further serves the community by revitalizing a segment of the community that previously was unusable and unsightly.  This urban development transforms the community and showcases the resolve of the citizens to not be limited to one industry.

The Pueblo Chamber of Commerce Web site said the event features country singer Collin Raye with the Pueblo Symphony Orchestra several food vendors and fireworks. General admission is $2 and children 12 and under are free. Students can take the Belmont bus down to the station near the Riverwalk.