Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has signed legislation that could give the Metro Jackson Water Authority control of Jackson’s water system by next year, according to a bill signed into law. The transfer depends on approval from U.S. District Court Judge Henry Wingate, who is overseeing a federal lawsuit against Jackson related to violations of the Safe Drinking Water and Clean Water acts.
The law states that the authority would take over once the current interim manager of JXN Water steps down, which is expected to happen sometime in 2027. State lawmakers debated the structure of the authority during recent legislative sessions, ultimately approving a nine-member board composed of appointees from the mayor of Jackson, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the mayors of Ridgeland and Byram.
Jackson Mayor John Horhn would serve as a non-voting member of the board. The cities of Byram and Ridgeland, which receive water and sewer services from Jackson, pushed back against a House proposal requiring Jackson officials to approve their appointees. The board would oversee the authority’s decisions, such as entering contracts or raising rates, and would appoint a president to manage daily operations, replacing current manager Ted Henifin.
Horhn expressed disappointment after the bill’s passage, stating that Jackson should control a majority of the appointments. He also warned that the city could be liable for approximately $200 million in debt if the authority fails to make payments. The city did not respond to inquiries about potential legal challenges to the legislation.
Rep. Shanda Yates, an independent from Jackson and author of the bill, told WLBT that it remains the city’s responsibility to negotiate a lease agreement with the water authority.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
