A controversial bill to overhaul Jackson’s water system advanced Tuesday after the City Council voted 4-2 in favor, despite heated objections from residents worried about billing issues and accountability.
The standing-room-only meeting grew tense after Ted Henifin, Jackson Water’s interim third-party administrator, said some residents are not paying their water bills.
“There’s been a culture here of folks who don’t want to pay their bills,” Henifin said, sparking visible frustration among attendees who said they have faced poor customer service and inaccurate bills.
Councilman Kevin Parkinson acknowledged the challenges Henifin inherited after the 2022 water crisis, noting the system’s infrastructure was already in poor condition.
“I really appreciate the work that you have done on the infrastructure side. And I know my businesses and my residents really, really appreciate that,” Parkinson said. “Though, I feel frustrated with the status of the billing customer service. And I can see with you, you did not create those billing customer service problems from the beginning. You inherited them. You also inherited the infrastructure.”
One resident, Pauline Rogers, opposed the proposed legislation, saying the city’s water system has faced problems for years.
“When you are living in 2026, where houses are not passing standard, that there got to be something else going on, but nobody’s calling that out,” Rogers said. “And this bill, for me, made me look deeper into what’s really going on. And for me what I keep coming up with is historical corruption.”
At issue is House Bill 1677 https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2026/html/HB/1600-1699/HB1677PS.htm, which would create a new board to run the city’s water system and assume nearly $200 million in debt. Jackson Mayor John Horn said the measure would help the city.
“I think that we can look forward to getting rid of a lot of debt that we have associated with the water and wastewater system in the city,” Horn said. “And that will free us up to be able to do a lot more things that are much needed in our city like better roads, crime fighting, and economic development.”
John Byrd, vice president of South Jackson Neighborhoods, said he neither supports nor opposes the bill but wants to represent those who cannot speak for themselves.
“You’re dealing with socioeconomics. I mean, we have some affluent areas. We have some areas they can’t afford to pay their water bill,” Byrd said.
The council voted 4-2 to support the measure, which now heads to the Senate. Supporters include council members Parkinson, Ashby Foote, Bryan Grizzell and Lashia Brown-Thomas. Opposed were Vernon Hartley and Tina Clay.
“My point is the process itself. Public hearings are essential for something of this magnitude,” Hartley said. “The placement of a water authority over Jackson Utilities. And without that, I think that we’re going to invite more questions. And we’re going to rush into something that perhaps we don’t need to rush into.”