EUREKA - After a marathon session that lasted until midnight - intently observed by many county officers, employees and residents with the stamina to stay - the Woodford County Board approved a tax levy that will raise taxes despite pleas during an earlier hearing.

It's impossible to say by how much, but it's likely about $40 for the owner of a $100,000 home.

The board spent hours voting on 63 line-item changes proposed by board member Larry Whitaker, but then decided not to apply any changes until Dec. 1, when three board members will be seated.

"This country is in a … mess as far as I'm concerned and here we go again raising taxes," Leo Reising, owner of Frate Service Inc. on Spring Bay Road, said. "It seems to me we should hold for another year."

Randy Perau of Germantown Hills complained about inconsistent home assessments in his neighborhood and questioned if they would go down with the declining economy.

"What guarantee as taxpayers do we have that there will be sound judgment?" he asked.

Mike McNally of rural Germantown Hills, a frequent commenter at county committees and board meetings, said, "You cannot expect people or businesses to come to Woodford County if you keep raising the taxes."

The total tax levy approved by the board is about $3 million, compared to $2.2 million for 2008, $2.8 million for 2007, $3.1 million for 2006 and $3.3 million for 2005.

It includes about $600,000 in the county corporate fund, which was levied at zero last year, when the county used reserves to lower residents' tax bills.

Board Chairman John Krug said the board may have lowered taxes too much last year. He compared a proposed Woodford County tax rate of 44 cents to nearby county tax rates of 90 cents for McLean, 95 cents for Marshall, 81 cents for Peoria, $1.21 in Livingston, 44 cents in Tazewell and 98 cents in LaSalle.

The total levies approved Tuesday, which apparently will be adjusted down, would increase taxes for the owner of a $130,000 home by $43.50, if there is no exemption increase or change in assessed value.

Whitaker said his proposed changes would have eliminated the need for a tax increase, "but the majority of the board didn't want to do that."