Mid-January, Trustee Schottland, Administrator Schroff, and I had the opportunity to attend the 2026 Legislative Breakfast sponsored by the Illinois Municipal League and the Lake County Government. This event brought together several local, state, and federal elected officials who provided valuable updates and engaged in thoughtful discussions with attendees.
It was encouraging to see the openness and honesty of the panel as they addressed the pressing challenges we face. One critical issue that emerged was the restoration of the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF).
Before 2011, municipalities benefitted from a 10% share of state income tax revenues through the LGDF. However, in response to a fiscal crisis, this share was reduced to 6% under the pretext of being a temporary measure. Local governments, in good faith, accepted this cut with the understanding that the funding would be restored once the state’s budget situation improved.
Regrettably, progress towards reinstating the 10% share has been painfully slow. As it stands, the LGDF share for 2025 is a mere 6.47%, and in the current state budget proposal, it is set to be further reduced to 6.28%. This continued decrease in funding directly impacts our towns and villages, undermining the revenue we were promised and jeopardizing essential services that our communities rely on.
The panel demonstrated considerable support for restoring the original LGDF share, yet I must express concern regarding the lack of motivation among some of our state and federal elected officials to act on this matter. It’s imperative that we advocate for our communities and demand the reinstatement of the LGDF share, ensuring we fulfill our commitment to the towns and villages we serve.
Forward Motion 