Natchez has always known how to roll out the red carpet, and one local leader’s idea for a business party with the bigwigs deserves some serious consideration.

In recent weeks, city and county leaders have taken two separate trips to Washington, D.C., to meet with the same men who represent our neck of the woods. Combined, the trips cost taxpayers at least $15,000. In recent years, such trips are an annual affair, sometimes with an even higher price tag.

Supervisor Mike Lazarus — who didn’t make the D.C. trip — suggested recently that next year Natchez simply invite the senators and representatives to town for a visit with us.

It wouldn’t be too difficult to find a good deal on a great bed and breakfast, a week’s worth of wonderful meals and an up-close-and-personal look at the projects we hope they’ll help us fund.

We could likely even invite key members of the delegation’s staffs for less than $15,000.

Trips to D.C. have their benefits, and local leaders likely shouldn’t ban them altogether. But hosting the delegation for a weekend in Natchez has its benefits as well.

We hope local leaders in the county and city will consider Lazarus’ good idea. Having the meetings on our turf every few years would be a cost saver for taxpayers and could be a moneymaker for the community.

Besides, we all know that those who visit Natchez fall in love with its charm.