Lake County taxes are set to go up as much as 18 percent. County commissioners aproved the tentative millage increase Tuesday.

Lake County was one of the hardest hit counties in the nation by the recession.

Over the past five years that’s meant no raises for any county employee including sheriff’s deputies. The county also cut its staff nearly in half. Through it all the county never considered raising property taxes until Tuesday, instead drawing on dwindling reserves.

At a meeting where overflow crowds watched from the rotunda, the most colorful attire was the green uniforms of deputies seeking raises, and the yellow of dozens hoping to save county libraries from the chopping block.

But the most vocal were those against the proposed 18 percent property tax increase.

“If you raise the taxes there’s going to be more houses that are foreclosed on," said resident Milt Fox. "It’s a simple as that.”

“Target and JcPenney are closed but across the street Goodwill is full," said resident Ralph Smith. "That’s Lake County in 2014, ladies and gentlemen.”

To make up a projected $15 million budget shortfall the county manager told commissioners they’d have to cut 30 county jobs, close Discovery Gardens and three libraries and there would be no raises for anyone.

“We want those people there for us when we need them and we need to be there for them,” said Dee Grassel, services supporter.

One commissioner said she couldn’t support the tax increase, saying it was built around scare tactics.

“I just don’t like that kind of politics we know we can do status quo and keep everybody intact,” said Commissioner Leslie Campione.

The rest of the commission approved the millage increase for now, but vowed to keep an eye out for cost-saving measures.

“Do we want to be thought of as the best place to live or do we want to be known as the cheapest place to live?” said Commissioner Welton Cadwell.

There will be two more public hearings on the matter: September 9 and September 23. Both are at 5 p.m.

County Commissioners can reduce property taxes at either of those meetings but they can’t raise them any higher than what was set Tuesday.