CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — After Illinois and Cook County leaders announced their commitment to help close a gap in funding to shelter and care for migrants in Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson said he wasn't ready to have the city close the remaining shortfall.
Teams from the city, the county and the state have estimated that about $321 million in additional funding is needed this year to provide shelter, health care and other services to migrants.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he will ask state lawmakers to provide an additional $182 million in the next state budget. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said she’ll ask county commissioners to approve up to an additional $70 million.
That leaves a funding gap of roughly $70 million in the amount of money needed to pay for migrant shelter and care this year.
When asked whether the city would cover the remaining shortfall, Johnson said Chicago has already committed significant resources to the migrant crisis.
“I’ve appropriated $51 million from the very beginning,” he told reporters. “I took that first vote. No one had to stand next to me. I did it. I then appropriated another $150 million and then went back again, for a third time, for $95 million.”
Johnson said it’s not about his own commitment.
“If anybody questions my commitment — I’ll say it like this: I don’t believe anybody in Chicago is questioning my commitment to this mission,” he said.
The mayor said evaluating the city’s full commitment of money and resources to the migrant crisis before deciding what to do next is smart leadership.
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