The results of a couple of recent polls on The Natchez Democrat website are perplexing to me.

Particularly, results of Wednesday’s question: “Do you want Natchez to purchase the Callon property on the bluff?”

Fifty nine percent of respondents answered “No” to that question with 41 percent answering “Yes.”

The day before we had featured an editorial on the subject pointing out the strategic gem the parking lot on the bluff is to the city of Natchez, providing access to the bluff amenities, including walking trails, green space and views of the river.

Surely, readers see the value of that property to the city, especially with the efforts to revitalize downtown Natchez, which brings me to the second perplexing poll results.

In Friday’s poll question, The Democrat asked: “Should Natchez hire a downtown director?”

At the time of this writing the results were following a similar trend line with 77 percent answering “No” and 23 percent answering “Yes.”

I’ll be the first to admit The Natchez Democrat polls are not scientific but rather are a measure of the website’s visitors’ responses at the moment.

However, I believe the results are an indication of views of average residents’ opinions, and the prevailing attitude toward government spending over the past three or four decades has been “No,” regardless of whether it means raising taxes or whether the money is from federal, state or local coffers.

A few recent examples of that disdain for government spending include the state’s refusal to accept funding for the Affordable Health Care Act, lack of funding to maintain and repair state infrastructure, including the state’s highways and bridges and of course welfare spending.

Funny how lack of spending the tax dollars somehow never seems to relate to lower taxes, but that is a topic for another day.

I wonder if people consider the reasons we have governments, which is to provide for the common defense and the common good. By spending on such things as infrastructure, health care, parking lots and downtown improvement projects, the whole community benefits.

Having the Callon parking facility as a public space once again would certainly benefit the whole community, helping with tourism and the city’s ability to host festivals and entertainment. The economic benefit would be well worth the expenditure, unless the cost is somehow preposterous. Perhaps the answer would be different if a reasonable price had been announced.

Hiring a downtown director, at least initially, however, would not result in any rise in taxes but would come from money the city already has budgeted from casino proceeds and from other economic entities.

Debbie Hudson, president and CEO of Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce said a downtown director would be more than worth the cost.

“A downtown director would be someone to take responsibility to make things happen,” Hudson said. “It would be well worth any expenditure to help with tourism, community development, and that is all economic development.”

And, all residents of Natchez will benefit from economic development.

Scott Hawkins is editor of The Natchez Democrat. Reach him at 601-445-3540 or scott.hawkins@natchezdemocrat.com.