Last week’s news that the Natchez-Adams County Port is now able to pay a 30-day period’s operating expenses for the first time in two years isn’t the end of its financial obstacles &045; but it’s certainly a good start.

In Monday’s Board of Supervisors meeting Port Director Anthony Hauer announced the facility, hit hard by the July 2003 closing of International Paper in particular, would be able to pay the last month’s operating expenses.

What does this mean for the taxpayer? If the port isn’t able to pay its own expenses, we must &045; through the Board of Supervisors. This has been the case since June 2003.

Hauer said the county has spent $173,374 on the port last month.

By comparison, the amount of county funds requested by the county’s volunteer fire departments for this entire fiscal year was $272,420. The Adams County Health Department clinic requested $132,500; juvenile court, $226,719; and civil defense, $154,552. True, those departments also receive money from other sources, such as grants &045; but it helps put things in perspective.

Money spent on the port is well spent, however, if it allows the facility to continue operating well until it can get back on its own feet.

Although he can’t guarantee the current level of business will continue every month &045; a wise move in an uncertain economy &045; Hauer’s efforts in working his industry contacts hard to drum up more business seem to have paid off.

We urge him and the Port Commission to continue such efforts night and day until the facility’s business base is strong enough to make meeting operating expenses an every-month occurence.

And we urge the Economic Development Authority and the state to showcase the latest information about the port on their Web sites.

The port can be an asset in recruiting new businesses, but only if people know it’s there and have the latest information on its capabilities.