LEVANT – Property taxes are expected to stay the same as part of a town budget that will go before residents at a special town meeting tonight.

The special town meeting will be held at 7 tonight at the Levant Elementary School.

The mill rate for the 2003-04 year is expected to stay at 16.3 mills, the same as last year, with increases in municipal, school and county budgets offset by increases in revenues.

Residents are being asked to approve a municipal budget of $895,958, representing a 3.7 percent increase from last year. The municipal budget includes $344,480 recommended by town selectmen and the budget committee for road and highway maintenance and improvements.

The warrant also includes a measure in response to residents complaining about barking dogs. The proposed amendment to the animal control ordinance sets up a procedure for reporting and investigating complaints about loud dogs. The amendment is aimed at habitually barking or howling dogs that disturb the peace and sets forth fines that start at $50 and go up to $200 depending on the number of offenses.