Although I must agree with several of the letters in the March 29 issue of the Hicksville Illustrated in that voter turnout on the bond issue was terrible, I must strongly disagree with the conclusions implied by several residents of our hamlet.

Why would anyone vote for a bond issue knowing that the teachers union is looking for a large raise and is not offering any give backs, which will have a dramatic effect on our taxes?

Why would anyone vote for a bond issue knowing that Nassau County is about to raise our taxes by 10 percent, 20 percent or 33 percent?

Why would anyone vote for a bond issue knowing that, per the announcement in the March 15 issue of the Illustrated, that windows in three of our schools are being replaced as part of the normal maintenance 2000-2001 budget?

And why would someone vote for a bond issue when the normal maintenance budget gets "raided" every year leading to many of the items being on this bond issue list?

Resolve the contract, this year's budget and address the issue of what is normal maintenance and then let the voters see what is truly needed and perhaps you will have a chance to pass a bond issue.

Separately, I am truly offended by the tone and inferences of the letters by these "concerned" citizens. If they are so outraged over the turnout and result of the vote, then they should look only to themselves as they obviously did not or could not convince enough of their neighbors to vote their way, or even to vote.

Paul Sheridan