Rosa Beckett, chief executive officer of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, told the Jackson City Council the authority is proposing a fiscal year 2026 operating budget that projects about $26.17 million in operating revenue and $23.84 million in operating expenses, producing an operating income projection of roughly $2.32 million. "We are looking to present to the city our proposed fiscal year 2526, budget presentation," Beckett said.

The nut graf: the airport's budget and capital plan matter to the city because the facility supports commercial service, concessions and ground-transport fees, has debt outstanding, and operates its own water system that serves Department of Defense facilities — a failure of which the authority says would have broad operational consequences.

Jana Green, the authority's interim chief financial officer, presented the financial details. Green said operating revenues for FY26 are projected at $26,165,450 and operating expenses at $23,844,038, yielding the $2,321,411 operating income. She told council members the authority expects a small year‑over‑year drop in passenger activity and that operating expenses are rising modestly but below current CPI rates. "Our operating revenues are 26,170,000.00 for fiscal year 26," Green said.

Beckett described airline service at Jackson‑Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN): American Airlines operates multiple daily flights (Dallas, Charlotte Douglas and one flight to Washington, D.C. reported in the presentation), Delta has increased frequency into Atlanta, Southwest serves Baltimore, Houston and Nashville with weekend Orlando service, and United has increased daily flights to Houston. Beckett said JMAA routinely markets the airport to carriers, including ultra‑low‑cost carriers.

On capital planning, Green said the airport lists 42 projects for FY26 with total capital spending of $43,476,102. She said the Federal Aviation Administration is the largest single funding source cited in the packet, with FAA funding of about $21,076,556 and a local contribution from JAN of about $8,300,000. Outstanding bond principal was presented as $18,065,000; the presentation noted the oldest bond matures Oct. 31 and the authority's scheduled principal payment this year is about $2,160,000.

Beckett and Green detailed infrastructure risks. They said the terminal is about 60 years old and that a recent condition assessment cataloged more than 900 pieces of equipment and terminal infrastructure elements to inform a capital repair plan. Separately, Beckett said the airport operates its own water system and that replacement of aging ductile piping has been estimated at upward of $23,000,000. She said the authority has taken the request for appropriations to federal partners and to the FAA and has discussed the need with U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker because the airport supplies water to an Air National Guard wing on airport property.

Council members asked clarifying questions about staffing and revenue assumptions. Green said airline projections provided by carriers drive the authority's revenue forecast and that some ground‑transport activity (transportation network companies) contributes fees to airport revenue. On headcount the packet text was unclear in the transcript; the authority described a planned reduction in certain administrative positions while relying on mutual aid agreements for some services.

No formal motions or votes were taken during the presentation. Council discussion focused on clarifying budget assumptions and on the authority's efforts to secure federal appropriations and FAA grants to fund capital work and the water‑system replacement.

Ending: The airport presenters concluded by saying they would take additional questions after the packet walkthrough and that previously approved council appropriations (from a prior council action) are reflected in the authority’s capital funding assumptions.