Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes knows Buffalo has a gapping budget hole.
But Peoples-Stokes says she also has concerns about Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan's proposal to raise property taxes by 25% in his upcoming 2026-27 budget.
Ryan says for the average Buffalo homeowner whose house is assessed at $202,000, their property tax bill will increase around $30 per-month.
However, Peoples-Stokes is concerned how the property tax increase will impact her East Side constituents.
"Maybe some people can afford that but my people can't," Peoples-Stokes said.
The property tax hike - something Ryan warned was coming for more than one year - has become a major talking point.
Some support Ryan because of the financial circumstances he inherited. Ryan said Buffalo may be facing a $109 million canyon-like budget gap in 2026-27 unless a number of measures are undertaken.
Still, others think the 25% property tax is too much to financially swallow at once.
"He's probably not going to fix everything in year one," Peoples-Stokes said. "I just don't think you can solve this budget in one year."
Ryan predicts it may take three budget cycles to right size Buffalo's fiscal picture.
"You wanted to be mayor, you figure it out," Peoples-Stokes said.
Peoples-Stokes said New York may help with some financial aid - like the $40 million it pledged this year.
But Peoples-Stokes says Ryan needs to step up with more options.
"All of your help will not come from New York state, but some of it will," Peoples-Stokes said.