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NATCHEZ — Magnolia Bluffs Casino has fully paid its obligation to the city’s community development fund, Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson said.

The community learned at a recent meeting of the Natchez Mayor and Board of Aldermen that the casino had not paid the money it is contractually obligated to pay into a fund for community development in two years.

City Clerk Megan McKenzie told the aldermen at the May 13 meeting that the casino owed a total of $535,286, or $267,643 per year for 2024 and 2025.

Gibson said Tuesday afternoon that the casino paid the full amount owed last week.

“I don’t know why they fell behind, but I’m very grateful for what Magnolia Bluffs does in this community,” he said. “You know, they’ve had two changes in leadership over the last two years. They are new here and we need to grant them some grace. They employ so many people here and are such an active member of this community.”

Gibson said the issue simply underscores the financial stability of the city.

“We were able to function those two years without any change to the services we provide and still within our budget and even carrying over surpluses,” he said. “The city is in a very good financial position. We have carried a healthy balance in the community development accounts and we have safeguarded those funds for more recreational projects that are forthcoming.”

He said the community development fund has helped the city’s new department of parks and recreation get a good start.

“Those funds have definitely been helpful, but a small percentage of those funds have actually gone to that department. We try to save those funds for meaningful projects that have a meaningful impact. Those funds helped us to set in motion our recreation renewal bond and have helped us pay that bond, which funded improvements to all six city parks and we are about to finish the golf clubhouse. We have done all of those projects without missing a beat,” Gibson said.

In addition to its payments into the city’s community development fund, Magnolia Bluffs Casino pays $1 million per year in lease payments to the city. Those funds are paid monthly and are up to date, McKenzie said.