Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Jackson & Rankin County Make Deal on Airport Land

Sisters of Rukia gnash teeth

Jackson Mayor John Horhn issued the following statement. 

The recent agreement between Rankin County and the City of Jackson regarding the land surrounding the Jackson Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport represents a major step forward for cooperation and shared economic growth in our metro area.

It is important for the public to understand that this agreement does not transfer or surrender any City of Jackson property. The City of Jackson continues to own all airport lands, including the surrounding acreage. What has changed is simply the incorporation status of that land, allowing Jackson, Pearl, and Flowood to legally include portions of the land within their municipal boundaries for purposes of planning and taxation.

For Jackson, this means new opportunity where there was none before. Currently, this area is not incorporated and therefore generates no sales or property tax revenue for the City. Under this agreement, the portions incorporated by Jackson will now allow our city to collect property and sales taxes from development, leasehold interests, and business activity on the land, all while maintaining full ownership of the property.

Any land incorporated by another city will not result in ownership changes; instead, it allows those cities to extend essential services such as water and sewer. In fact, Pearl has already agreed to provide these services within the next 18 months, relieving Jackson of that financial and operational responsibility.

This deal does not give away one inch of land. The City of Jackson remains proud owner and steward of the airport and its surrounding lands, and we are committed to ensuring that this partnership strengthens, rather than diminishes, our city’s economic future.

Simply put: Jackson is not giving away land. We’re putting it to work for the people of Jackson.

The agreement was approved by a super majority 5-2 City Council vote. 


Kingfish note: Council members Clay and Stokes voted against the settlement. 


Some people were none too pleased by the cooperation.   The People's Assembly groused: 


Tonight, the City Council will be voting on a proposal to settle the dispute between Flowood and Pearl (Rankin County) over the annexation of land located near the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers Airport.

Why does this matter?

The City of Jackson has tried to maintain ownership of Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers Airport for a number of years, keeping it from becoming a regionally owned airport. Right now the airport’s revenue goes to the city. If moved to a regional authority, the revenue would be dispersed to Rankin and Madison Counties. The authority would be overseen by a board appointed by the Governor, with only 2 representatives from Jackson. Jackson cannot afford to lose any revenue.

Some of the land surrounding the airport was annexed to support airport operations and development. The MS Supreme Court ruled in March 2023 that Jackson’s 2019 annexation ordinance for land around the airport was void because Jackson did not get the Rankin County Board of Supervisors’ approval.

The vote tonight will decide if they give up the land that was annexed in 2019.

Residents need clarity and explanation on all airport updates.

Please show your support & come to tonight's City Council meeting at City Hall, 6pm.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Who were the 2 no votes?

Anonymous said...

Jackson can’t run Jackson

Anonymous said...

KF's italicized remarks are not reflected in the mayor's edict, which mentions nothing about airport tax money going to anybody but Jackson. I see nothing gained by those who wanted to take over ownership. If it's there point it out without telling me to read the post, which I have. We've always been told 'the airport is in Rankin county'...yet now we wonder if that was true.

Anonymous said...

Sista Rukia, pay your taxes you scofflaw and grifter.

Anonymous said...

There's so much wrong with the "People's Assembly" statement. First and foremost, the Supreme Court ruled that Jackson's 2019 ordinance was void; thus, nothing was annexed in 2019; therefore, there can't be a vote to "decide if they give up the land that was annexed in 2019." There was no land annexed in 2019. Jackson can't annex in Rankin County without Rankin County support. Somehow, the Rankin BOS gave that approval this time. That's a win for Jackson.

Anonymous said...

Correct because they were from Rukia's band of idiots.

Anonymous said...

I really wish someone would take responsibility for the degraded condition of the airport. What use to be a small but very nice and clean airport now just feels ran down. Squeaky (if even working) escalators that scream out to a mechanical mind like mind to please be PM'd hasn't happened for years now. I'm sure everyone is shocked when they do down and need repairs along with a hefty bill to go along with it. Only one parking ticket printer was working when I was there 2 weeks ago. Apply that principle to the entire airport and it will paint a true picture. It's really pathetically ran. Hopefully Horhn can begin to make some positive changes around there.

Anonymous said...

Look at them getting this statement out just a little while after the vote. Pretty cool. Way to pre-empt the outrage. I am impressed with everything but keeping the zoo open so far. Just repave Woodrow Wilson for the love of God!

Anonymous said...

Clearly, you have not been in there in a while. The renovations are ongoing and the installation of the first phase of escalators is in the completion phase. Once that first set of escalators is installed, they will then do the next one.

Anonymous said...

The JAN apologist makes their predictable appearance to defend the dump of an airport.

Anonymous said...

9:13. What section of Woodrow Wilson you want paved??? Plans have been approved for total reconstruction of (1) I-55 to Mill St. Bridge and (2) Mill St. Bridge to MLK. Just need MDOT (LPA funds) and the 1% commission to pay for these projects. The first section should have been done 10 years ago!!!

Anonymous said...

Often amused how much bank people put on the 1% collection. It was always going to be of limited heft. What did they collect last FY, $15m or $16m? Then Antard diluted the fund with bonds where interest payments will shrink fund $ availability every year. Never understood how the stalwarts on the Commission allowed that to happen. Maybe Pete Perry can comment.

Anonymous said...

I don't think Lumumba was in control of
the 1% funds.

Anonymous said...

Oh no, John Horhn is working with white folks! He's a traitor to his race! - says the Black Nationalist Lumumbas

Anonymous said...

JAN is pretty much on par with airports in similar sized cities.

Anonymous said...

But when is the next junket to Paris?

Anonymous said...

8:10 is right on the money. The MS Supreme Court made clear there was no land land that was annexed in 2019, and this has absolutely nothing to do with ownership of the Airport or management of it by any regional authority.

Anonymous said...

Nope.

Anonymous said...

I hope the Rankin County BOS's didn't sign off on this?

Anonymous said...

Rankin doesn't need any thing allowing Jackson's Zoning,Building expertise inter mingling with Pearl & Flowoods..


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