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NATCHEZ — Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson said because of the increasing number of requests for contribution of taxpayer funds, the city is changing the way it provides money to groups, organizations and events.

“The city has for many years done its best within the law to support as many requests for donations and money as possible. But as Natchez is growing, so many more events and organizations have come to the city with requests for money,” he said. “We have a responsibility to make sure we are meeting the basic city services first and needs of our citizens. Taxpayer dollars and public funds are there for that purpose.”

The new policy does not mean the city will stop or decrease the funding it provides to those groups and events. It does mean the value of that money to citizens will be more closely scrutinized.

“We recognize there are many organizations that meet needs that are very much like the government meeting those needs, such as the Humane Society, and programs for our elderly and others in need,” Gibson said.

As the requests for funding increased, city attorney Bryan Callaway began taking a close look at state statues governing such, he said.

“What we have determined is that the city must be careful not to dole out public money to any and every person or organization that approaches us. We have to wisely invest those funds in those programs that are truly bring great value to our people,” the mayor said.

Moving forward, when the city’s board of aldermen approves money for groups, agreements for services rendered or an agreement for advertising will be required.

“Rather than just make a large donations, for example, to the Humane Society, we are working on an agreement where we give them an annual appropriation and the city in turn will get services to help take care of our animals,” he said.

The city’s contribution this year to the Natchez-Adams Humane Society will not change. However, the Humane Society will make available to the city a building it recently acquired at no cost for use by the city for animals brought in by the city’s two animal control officers. The city will pay for about $50,000 in needed renovations and equipment for that building and will provide staff to care for the animals.

Gibson said that contract with the Humane Society should be finalized and work should begin by the end of this calendar year.

“This will improve our ability to take care of our homeless and stray animal situation here,” he said.

For the first time, the city has budget $15,000 each to Hoofbeats and Pawprints Rescue and to Spay/Neuter Natchez.

“We believe preventative measures are so important when it some to animal control and Spay/Neuter Natchez is such a valuable partner,” Gibson said.

That organization provides access to low- and no-cost spay and neuter services for area residents.

“And finding a home for unwanted animals, even if it is out of our area or state even, is a good strategy,” he said.

Hoofbeats and Pawprints, in addition to rehabilitating animals, operates a national transport, creating relationships with no-kill rescue groups all across the country, where animals have a much better chance of being adopted than they do here.

“Those are examples of doing things a different way. It doesn’t mean we are stopping. Moving forward, we will be under a contracted agreement to make certain citizens of Natchez truly get services for public money.”

He said the city will continue to provide sponsorship for large community events.

“We can better serve those events as advertisers. That’s a way we can continue to support some of the good things in the city.

“Just as any business, the city can’t just dole everything out without any expectation of some services rendered or some benefit in return. Supporting these organizations supporting the city makes sense. And supporting such great services as these make good sense. Promoting the city through these large events is so important to helping promote Natchez and keep the forward momentum of our Natchez renewal going,” Gibson said.