Council committee urges Buffalo Sewer Authority to provide detailed financial report, votes to request attendance

The Common Council Committee on Finance on July 1, 2025, opened discussion on a resolution requesting a detailed financial report from the Buffalo Sewer Authority (BSA) and directed staff to seek the authority’s attendance at a future meeting.

Council Member Wyatt introduced the resolution and said prior outreach to the BSA had not produced the requested information; he asked that the committee be “really nice” this time but warned future requests would be firmer if the authority did not respond. The committee chair asked the chief of staff to send formal correspondence calling for BSA representatives to attend, and several council members voiced support for continued oversight.

Nut graf: Council members said the Common Council receives limited advance information regarding the BSA’s budgets and decisions and urged the authority to provide proposed budget documents and appear before the council before finalizing budgets.

During discussion members argued the council should receive BSA budget proposals before the authority approves them so the council can understand planned priorities and community impacts. One committee member suggested the council consider a seat on a newly forming parking authority (mentioned in discussion as a separate future governance topic) to improve regular engagement with authorities overseeing city services.

The committee made a formal request that the BSA provide financial information and attend a committee meeting; the chair and several members said they would add their names to the correspondence. The committee closed discussion and the item was tabled pending receipt of the BSA response and scheduling of a joint meeting.

Ending: Committee members said they will follow up with the BSA and that the finance committee expects the authority to provide requested budget documents prior to its own budget approval process.