Editor’s note: This essay is part of Mississippi Today Ideas, a platform for thoughtful Mississippians to share fact-based ideas about our state’s past, present and future. You can read more about the section here.

Making hard decisions is never fun. No one wakes up excited to deliver news that will upset people, especially not in a city that’s already been through so much.

But leadership isn’t about winning popularity contests. It’s about doing what needs to be done — even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it makes you the villain in someone else’s story. If taking the heat today means a better tomorrow for Jackson, I’ll take it.

I’ve seen what failure looks like up close. I stood in the water plants when the system collapsed. There were no doors on critical buildings, and exposed pipes in below freezing temps. I’ve watched as the people of this city lined up for bottled water when they should have been at Christmas dinner. And I’ve spent the past two and a half years trying to make sure that never happens again.

That’s why we’re asking for a modest rate increase. I know how that sounds. No one likes to hear the words “higher bill,” especially in a place where too many are already stretched thin. But the truth is, the system can’t run on yesterday’s rates. It takes over $80 million a year to operate Jackson’s drinking water system responsibly. When we stepped in, the city was trying to run it on just $15 million to 18 million per year over several years. That’s not sustainable. It’s not safe. And it’s not fair to residents who deserve reliable service.

We’ve done the analysis. We’ve looked at every line item. We’ve streamlined operations and improved collections. We’ve reduced the base charge for the lowest- income customers on SNAP. This isn’t about spending more. It’s about spending what it actually costs to keep water flowing.

And no, we can’t just use federal funding to fill the gap. Of the much-talked-about $800 million in federal funds (in reality $600 million), only $150 million was flexible and available for operations—and most of that is gone with nearly $75 million going to fix extensive water leaks that needed to be repaired to restore pressure to residents. The rest is earmarked for specific infrastructure projects and cannot be used for day-to-day costs like staff, water treatment chemicals or power bills. We’ve been transparent about that from the beginning.

These federal funds are essential, but they’re not a substitute for sustainable, recurring revenue. A one-time grant doesn’t keep a system running year after year. The only way to do that is by charging what it actually costs to deliver water service — nothing more, nothing less.

I’ve heard the questions from the City Council and others. Why not just cut costs? Why not collect from everyone who owes? We’re doing both. Collections are up. Our systems are tighter. But even with perfect collections, we’d still face a massive shortfall.

The gap is not about wasteful spending. It’s about the true cost of running a water system that works. And when you’re facing that kind of gap, raising rates can’t be a political decision. It has to be a business decision — grounded in real data, responsible analysis and a clear-eyed view of what it takes to serve this city well. This is about financial sustainability, not short-term optics.

If we implement this rate structure now, we’ll be on track to reach full financial stability by 2029. That means balanced budgets, three months’ worth of cash reserves and meeting every debt obligation. No bailouts. No Band-Aids. Just a water system that works, day in and day out. That’s the goal. And it’s within reach if we have the courage to act now.

Cities across the country are facing the same challenges — aging infrastructure. rising costs. tough trade-offs. The difference is that some choose to kick the can down the road.

We’ve seen where that leads. Jackson has already lived through what happens when tough choices are avoided for too long. We can’t afford to do that again. This time, we’re facing the facts. We’re taking the hits. And we’re making the call.

So yes, I’ll be the bad guy if it means better for Jackson. I didn’t grow up here. But over the two years I’ve been here, I’ve come to love this city deeply — its food, its music, its humor and most of all, its people. I’ve sat in churches, broken bread in neighborhood restaurants and listened to people who want nothing more than to see Jackson thrive.

That’s why I want better for this place — not as a detached manager, but as someone who now feels personally connected to the soul of this city — its people.

This isn’t just about fixing pipes and balancing budgets. It’s about protecting the dignity of a city that deserves better, and helping ensure that the people who’ve stuck with Jackson through its hardest days can finally see it rise. It means families can turn on the tap and trust what comes out. It means we never again see the chaos and fear of a city without water. That’s the job. And I’m here to do it.

Ted Henifin was appointed by the federal court in November 2022 to serve as the interim third-party manager of JXN Water. Henifin has more than 30 years of management experience in public utilities, most recently as the general manager of the Hampton Roads Sanitation District, which serves 1.7 million people in the Virginia Beach, Va., area. Henifin is focused on stabilizing operations, rebuilding infrastructure and restoring public trust in Jackson’s water system.