About Us

Jackson County and Municipalities

Background & Governance

The Jackson County Water and Sewerage Authority (JCWSA) was established in 1986 by an act of the Georgia General Assembly as an independent political subdivision of the State of Georgia. The purpose of the Authority is to provide reliable, high-quality water and sewer service to the citizens of Jackson County.

JCWSA is governed by a five-member Board of Directors. All board members must reside in Jackson County and are appointed by the Jackson County Board of Commissioners. The appointment of our Board Members is our only connection to Jackson County Government.  Members serve staggered three-year terms and may serve up to three consecutive terms (nine years total), after which they must step down for at least one full year before being eligible for reappointment. Importantly, JCWSA board members serve without compensation, reinforcing the Authority’s commitment to public service and fiscal responsibility.

Though JCWSA functions similarly to a city or county in its public role, it is not a taxing entity. The Authority is entirely self-funded and operates as a public enterprise. This means it does not collect or rely on property taxes, sales taxes, or any other form of general taxation to fund its operations. Instead, JCWSA is supported exclusively through the rates, fees, and charges paid by its customers for water and sewer services. Simply put: your local tax dollars do not fund the operations of JCWSA.

It’s also important for customers to know that JCWSA no longer receives any Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funding. While past SPLOST programs did include allocations to JCWSA for major infrastructure investments (such as water transmission lines, elevated tanks, and pump stations) this is no longer the case. With the passage of SPLOST 6 in 2016, JCWSA was initially included in the funding; however, that funding has now concluded. As of today, JCWSA receives no ongoing SPLOST revenue from Jackson County.

Despite this, the JCWSA continues to meet its financial obligations, including covering 100% of the debt service associated with Jackson County’s ownership share of the Bear Creek Reservoir and Water Treatment Plant. This regional facility is essential to the county’s long-term water supply strategy, and the Authority has assumed full financial responsibility for the County’s portion of this critical infrastructure, without assistance from county tax revenue.

This financial independence reflects JCWSA’s commitment to responsible stewardship and long-term planning. As a result, JCWSA remains one of few entities in local government delivering essential services without any reliance on tax dollars.