Johnson pushes Springfield for bigger LGDF share and Bears retention plan

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson joined a coalition of Illinois mayors in Springfield to press lawmakers to raise the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) share of state income tax revenue, arguing a higher cut for locals is needed to fund services and transit. Pritzker’s budget would keep LGDF funding flat or reduce its share, which Johnson says could worsen city budgets; he notes that a 1% increase in LGDF could bring roughly $80 million to Chicago. Johnson also called for a Bears-stadium plan that would keep the team in Chicago at a publicly owned venue, countering Arlington Heights relocation talk, while Senate action on Bears legislation remains uncertain.