financial

Mississippi's capital only collects 56% of fees from its struggling water system

Mississippi's capital only collects 56% of fees from its struggling water system

Mississippi’s capital is collecting only a little more than half of the money it bills for water use, far below the rate at which most American cities obtain such fees, Jackson’s federally appointed water manager said Monday. Ted Henifin, appointed in November by a federal court to help improve Jackson’s troubled water system, told reporters the city is collecting about 56% of the water fees it issues. That compares to an industry-standard above 95%, he said. The uncollected bills equate to about $50 million a year in lost revenue for the city, where roughly a quarter of residents live in poverty. The revenue losses sharpen the financial strain of the hefty debt burden Jackson faces for its water system.