The Edgartown board of trade is getting an early start on planning next year’s Fourth of July fireworks over the outer harbor. On Monday, board member and Main street merchant Claudia Canerdy asked the selectmen if the town would consider absorbing half of the cost of the annual show for next year.

“The board of trade is just a little volunteer organization,” said Ms. Canerdy, who owns Claudia jewelry. “We get on the phone and call people and ask them for money,” she said. They also sell T-shirts, put up collection pots around town, and hold an occasional event, like a cocktail party, to fundraise.

“This year, we don’t have [enough] for the deposit,” said Ms. Canerdy. So they decided it was time to ask the town if it would cover half of the total cost of roughly $50,000.

Selectmen told Ms. Canerdy that she would need to write up a formal request and collect 10 signatures from Edgartown voters. The selectmen will then decide whether it should go on the warrant for the annual town meeting in April. The request must be submitted before Nov. 20, when all warrant articles are due.