In response to the husband and wife who questioned workforce reductions accomplished under Republican administrations in the Town of Hempstead ("Something Does Not Add Up," Oct. 11), the writers should get their facts straight before leaping for the word processor.

Hempstead's workforce reduction, just one of many cost-saving initiatives implemented under Republican leadership, could hardly be characterized as an "election year" measure. In fact, the elimination of budgeted positions was phased in over a period of 10 years, and was accomplished strictly through attrition/retirement. Absolutely no layoffs were utilized in this successful effort to trim the town payroll.

Under Supervisor Rich Guardino and his Republican predecessors, town government has worked diligently to enhance efficiency in every phase of municipal operations, in effect to "do more with less." Continued technological advances, including increased computerization have helped, but what has been most significant to Hempstead's success is a commitment to fiscal responsibility from top to bottom. Guardino, his commissioners, and a conscientious CSEA workforce is committed to bottom line cost savings. The Republican Town Board has protected the hard earned tax dollars of town residents, created a healthy budget surplus, and has earned for Hempstead town the highest Wall Street bond rating of any Long Island county or town.

With the support of my fellow Levittown residents on Nov. 7, I hope to help further the policies of fiscal restraint and to implement the town's year 2001 budget. This budget which holds the line on Hempstead Town property taxes for a ninth time in the past 10 years continues to maintain our fine town services and enhance the property values of our community.