Residents in Shenango Township will have to increase their household budget for many things in 2004 but their township property taxes probably won't be one of those things.

Township supervisors presented the proposed 2004 budget of $950,784 Monday with no tax increase.

If the proposed budget is approved, taxes will remain at 7 mills and raise $242,000 for township coffers.

A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value; assessments are a property's 1970 market value.

The average property owner will pay about $140 in taxes, township secretary Howard Mitchell said.

That figure is based on property valued at $20,000.

Last year taxes went up by 2.333 mills, or nearly 50 percent.

It was the first increase residents had seen in 15 years.

The budget is on display at the municipal building.

Supervisors are expected to approve it at a special meeting at 6 p.m. Dec. 15.