For Immediate Release:
March 2, 2022
Mayor Lumumba announces debt relief for Jackson water customers
(Jackson, Miss.) – The City of Jackson – in cooperation with the City’s Interim Third-Party Administrator, Ted Henifin, JXN Water and Promise – is excited to announce some long overdue and equitable relief for Jackson residents struggling with their water bills.
Beginning Thursday, Jackson residents have been given the opportunity to apply for debt relief from their bills as part of the People’s Relief Campaign. The campaign is the return on a promise from Mayor Lumumba to not only find funding to fix the City’s long neglected water infrastructure, but with the help of Henifin to also provide residents the relief they deserve from a water meter and billing system in disrepair in the aftermath of the City’s massive contract with Siemens Industry LLC.
“Some time ago, we promised to repair our broken and aged water infrastructure and get the resources that were necessary.” Mayor Lumumba said Thursday in the lobby of the Water/Sewer Business Administration in the Metrocenter Mall. “We said we would fight for equity in the water practice and billing process, and that we would make residents whole. This is a prime example of promises made, promises kept.”
The relief is a sign of good things to come as the City of Jackson, Henifin and his company, JXN Water work to systematically repair the neglected system from the ground up and come up with creative ways to address the crisis.
It follows the largest federal allocation of infrastructure funding in the history of Jackson, nearly $800 million, which was made possible by the work of Mayor Lumumba along with state and federal partners.
Thursday, Mayor Lumumba clarified the relief is separate from debt forgiveness since the funds will be used to pay outstanding water bills, not forgive any debt. By mid-afternoon, over $5 million in debt relief had already been allocated to Jackson residents, with more relief on the way.
The Mayor also cautioned residents to avoid misinformation about the program. He reminded residents that if you have a water bill and are in the system already, you will not be required to submit additional information. The Mayor called efforts to spread inaccurate information to residents irresponsible and self-defeating since the program is based specifically on helping Jackson residents.
Jackson residents can find more information about the program on the City’s social media page and the website of JXN Water. Both entities will continue to publish updated information on the program moving forward.
If residents were unable to apply for assistance at any of the nine locations set up to help, they can call 601-374-5787 for more information or apply online at peoplesreliefcampaign.com