- If you live in Jackson, your water bill is set to go up according to a plan for a $46M upgrade to our water system.
- The plan is to apply for federal and state grants and loans to cover the costs.
- But interest on the loans would be passed along to residents in the form of quarterly increases of $20 to $40.
- WATCH THE VIDEO for details.
(The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story)
The City of Jackson is planning a $46M water system upgrade that it says will increase your average water bill by $20-$40 per quarter.
"They keep hitting us with this stuff — we can't afford it." — pushback from Jackson neighbor Gerald Montgomery. "I'm on a fixed income and I know people out here — disabled and stuff that's on fixed incomes…"
City Council approving a plan presented by Fishbeck Engineer Colin McCorkle after a public hearing.
"From October 2027 to October 2037, all the lead service lines in the country have to be replaced per the federal government," says McCorkle. "So, it's a mandate. And there are grant funds available for that."
The plan — to replace 2000 lead service lines, 11,600 linear feet of cast iron water mains, re-coat the east side water tank, and various improvements to the Water Treatment Plant.
The aim is to get a loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and a grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to pay for these upgrades.
The interest on the loan, however, would end up on our water bills in the form of increases.
I asked City Manager Jonathan Greene if there's any chance of the City picking up that tab. He said: "The water system needs to pay for the water system."
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