Debate over House Bill 16 77 centers on proposed water authority, debt relief and resident protections

A public works committee hearing in Jackson City drew residents, business owners and state lawmakers to debate House Bill 16 77, legislation that would create a new municipal authority to lease the city's water and sewer system, assume its financing and govern rate and operational decisions.

Mayor (speaker 3) opened the administration's presentation by tracing the 2022 failure of Jackson's water and sewer systems, the federal court's intervention and the need for "a plan for what life would look like after Jackson Water goes away." He said the bill would form a nine-member authority in which Jackson would control six seats, require a lease of the system to the authority, and "result in approximately $200,000,000 being wiped off of the city of Jackson's books," freeing capacity for street repairs, crimefighting and economic development.

Drew Martin, the city attorney, told council members the bill was designed as a transition vehicle: the authority would not have power until it was appointed and until the authority and the city negotiated a lease; the authority's transition plan must also be submitted to the…