Gov. Tate Reeves is holding off on making his appointments to a legislature-created authority board intended to eventually run the city of Jackson’s water system following a federal judge’s decision to put the authority on hold for the time being.
The Republican governor – who issued a state of emergency over Jackson’s water in August 2022 ahead of a federal takeover – went to social media on the May 1 deadline to make appointments to the Jackson Metro Water Authority board and said while he disagrees with U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate’s injunction, he will let the judicial process play out before moving forward.
Wingate issued an injunction on April 30 after the city of Jackson challenged the authority, claiming it encroaches authority of the federal court. Wingate placed the city’s water system under federal receivership in late November 2022 and cited in his injunction that the “status quo must remain undisturbed,” pointing to the work federal receiver JXN Water has done to rehabilitate the system after decades of neglect.
“Nevertheless, out of respect for and due to the Court’s entry of a ‘status quo’ injunction, I will not be making my three appointments to the Authority board at this time,” Reeves wrote on X. “The State will continue to work with the Court to ensure that when the receivership is terminated, control of the water system will be transferred to an entity that can best serve the residents, state offices, and businesses of Jackson.”
Less than four years ago, the City of Jackson’s water system was just days away from a catastrophic and total collapse, which would have resulted in over 131,000 residents and countless state offices, businesses and employees being unable to obtain clean drinking water or even…
— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) May 1, 2026
The Jackson Metro Water Authority was created to the dismay of many city officials as state lawmakers landed on a board that did not give Jackson a majority voice. The bill signed into law by Reeves included a nine-member oversight board with appointments from the Jackson mayor (3), governor (2), lieutenant governor (1), Ridgeland mayor (1), Byram mayor (1), and another jointly decided on by the governor and Jackson mayor. Suburb representation was added by lawmakers as both Ridgeland and Byram use some of Jackson’s water system.
The intention of the state law is for the authority to take over the system at Wingate’s discretion when he decides to relieve himself from oversight duties. Wingate’s selection for third-party interim manager, Ten Henifin, is expected to step down sometime in 2027. It remains unclear exactly when the authority would be cleared to transition in, especially with Wingate’s ruling.
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Jackson officials argued to the court not only encroachment but also that the state law fails to align control with responsibility. Mayor John Horhn has consistently pointed out that under the law, the city of Jackson would still be tied to the system’s assets and any associated debt without a majority on the board. Although the city still owns the system’s infrastructure, the new authority would be able to set rates and oversee operations.
“Just as the city is concerned about the state encroaching on Jackson’s authority to manage its affairs, the court likewise has questions as to whether the state encroaches on federal authority regarding the future of Jackson water and wastewater,” Horhn said after the ruling.
All parties in the case have until May 10 to submit briefs to Wingate that address their positions.
While the Jackson Metro Water Authority’s future is currently in limbo, five of nine appointments have already been made in the case that the court sides with the state. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee, and Byram Mayor Richard White have announced their appointees. Horhn also moved forward with his, although his hope is the court will side with the city. Reeves is the only one who will wait.
