JACKSON, Miss—Nearly three years after Congress allocated over $600 million to repair Jackson’s water infrastructure in the aftermath of the Mississippi capital city’s water crisis, the mayor is asking state leaders for help ensuring the long-term viability of the system.
Mayor John Horhn met with members of the Capital City Revitalization Committee on Oct. 23 to discuss JXN Water’s management and the long-term viability of both the water and sewer utilities.
He praised third-party administrator Ted Henifin’s work to stabilize the system and bring it back into compliance with federally outlined standards after consecutive water crises, but noted that the agency “has a collections problem.”
That problem, Horhn said, threatens the long-term financial sustainability of the system, especially since the agency is tasked with using part of the funds to pay down debt the City has amassed over the years.
‘The State’s Assistance’
To properly address the dilemma, “the state’s assistance is going to be required,” Horhn said…