Natchez City Aldermen will tread on uncertain ground this week as they consider modifying the city&8217;s budget.

Last week, aldermen discussed plans to fund a full-time director position for the Natchez Association for the Preservation of Afro-American Culture&8217;s museum.

The museum, a venture of the NAPAC non-profit organization, leases space in the former Natchez Post Office on Main Street, but is otherwise independent from city government. And, practically speaking, it should stay that way.

City government&8217;s role shouldn&8217;t include directly funding employees for non-profit agencies, no matter how worthy or how needy the agencies may be.

For years, the city has helped non-profits in other ways, such as helping coordinate grant applications and the like. But directly diverting taxpayer money to fund hiring someone for a non-profit seems too much.

We&8217;d love it if the city were financially able to help all of the wonderful charitable causes in the community. Unfortunately, the city coffers are not limitless.

If the city begins funding staff for non-profits, by what criteria will it judge whether or not funding is merited? Without a good, logical answer to that question, aldermen would be wise to avoid such a serious, precedent-setting step this week.

Earlier this year, NAPAC officials asked the city for funding to make repairs to the aging building. A leaky roof has ruined some of the interior improvements and threatens the precious artifacts inside, museum volunteers say.

The city needs to make funding for those repairs a priority.

Fix the city-owned building, but leave the museum&8217;s administration to the good people who formed NAPAC.