We urge City of Natchez leaders to be cautious as the city considers what to do with the Natchez Senior Citizens’ Multipurpose Center on Washington Street.

Last week, the Natchez Board of Aldermen voted to take public feedback soon on a plan that would renovate the aging school building housing the center.

The estimated $900,000 project would include lots of renovations and repairs. The good news is the city’s community development director and grant wizard James Johnston told aldermen he believes half the cost may be provided by a grant.

The bad news is the city would have to come up with the remainder — approximately $450,000.

Before the city gets too deeply into the project, we hope city leaders will clearly identify where they believe the match for the grant can be found.

If the city believes it has the money within its budget, great. If a tax increase would be required, the public needs to know that, too.

Mere months ago, the city had plans to sell off the Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center building — also a large former school building in need of repair — citing a lack of funds for upkeep.

Nearly simultaneously, the city also suggested it needed an additional sales tax to service debt on the Natchez Convention Center.

That paints the picture of a city with some significant financial worries. If so, spending nearly half a million dollars on another project should require pause and careful consideration.

The Natchez Senior Citizens’ Multipurpose Center arguably may be one of Natchez’s most popular public buildings, but popularity shouldn’t trump fiscal responsibility.