ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (WLS) — State and local leaders are speaking out about the next steps for the Chicago Bears’ planned new stadium in Arlington Heights.

While the Bears are promising more than $2 billion to fund a new, fixed-roof stadium, the team is also seeking $855 million in public funding for infrastructure to “jumpstart the redevelopment potential” of the Arlington Park site.

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The buzz around the Bears is building in the village of Arlington Heights, and the team appears to be on the same page.

However, a project of this magnitude requires buy-in from multiple levels of government, and that’s still in the works.

“I hear it all the time, no matter where I go out for dinner or in the community,” Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia said. “You know, they’re excited that the bears are coming, but there’s maybe even an equal number of folks who are concerned for all the right reasons.”

With traffic, safety, the economics, sheer infrastructure and stakeholders coming from all directions, Mayor Tinaglia says the considerations are endless.

“We cannot drop the proverbial ball,” Tinaglia said. “We have to get into the end zone as a team here that really hits all those marks, and then it’ll be fabulous.”

Tuesday’s release of new economic projections from both the Bears and Arlington Heights appear to be nearly in lockstep all the way down to annual tax revenue for the village. The Bears are projecting $18 million .while Arlington Heights numbers show $15 million, but both figures could be conservative.

Meanwhile, Arlington Heights property owners are learning more about who may be funding what.

“The only expectation that I would have for anyone’s property in Arlington Heights is that their property values should go up in price, which then, of course, that means your property taxes might go up commensurately,” Mayor Tinaglia said.

Tinaglia says those taxes will not go towards funding the stadium. Among other top concerns for Arlington Heights residents is maintaining the cozy, suburban feeling.

“You’re going to have a little bit of a change, but the stadium and the grounds look like they’re going to be a go to destination,” real estate broker Maria DelBoccio said. “So I feel like, yes, we’re going to have some impact, but is it going to change why we love living in Arlington Heights? I do not think that.”

While momentum for a Bears stadium in Arlington Heights grows, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker appeared to be warming up to the idea. The team is now asking for $855 million in public funding for infrastructure, and the governor is leaving the door open for state support.

“The state will help where we can on infrastructure and other things that are the job of the state,” Pritzker said. “But, if I can, I just want to reiterate what we won’t be is an unending you know, hole full of money that is, you know, feeding it to a stadium when we have so many other valuable things that the state should be investing in for the people.”

Now the attention turns to Springfield, where the Bears are campaigning for the Megaproject Bill, which would allow the team to negotiate tax agreements with local municipalities and school and park districts rather than leaving it up to the Cook County Assessor.

The Illinois General Assembly’s veto session begins October 14.

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