No. I don't want to pay more real estate taxes. They're high enough. I think we can all agree at least on that one thing. No one in Manhasset wants to pay more or higher real estate taxes. It hurts.

But the place to make the case of taxes being too high is by filing a tax protest and appealing any adverse decision giving the reasons why you feel the value of your house is not as stated in the tax rolls, not by voting down the school budget. Or we should look at the spending in the county and make sure that the money we pay is used as it should be. We all do like, however, the thought that the value of our houses has increased. And the astronomical assessed valuations that have been assigned to Manhasset properties prove that hypothesis. One reason why the values of our houses are as high as they are is because of the quality of the Manhasset schools. Many people, including ourselves, have sacrificed to come to Manhasset primarily because of the schools. That fact makes Manhasset desirable to so many young families. Let's not change that.

Notwithstanding our dislike for paying taxes, we cannot take that feeling out on our schools and our children. Please vote yes to support our children, our community and our schools on Tuesday, May 16. Our wonderful new Superintendent of Schools, Charles Cardillo, has tried very hard, in my opinion, to give us a budget with as little fat in it as possible while still maintaining the quality of Manhasset's schools. He has also given us ample opportunity to comment on his suggestions. He will take your calls or e-mails and is interested in having people contact him personally with their concerns or questions. If the budget does not pass, teachers will be lost and class size will increase, not something any of us wants. And we will still be paying high taxes. Please do not punish our children and our schools because of our high taxes.

Thanks particularly to those of you who are on fixed incomes, who may have no children in school right now but who may remember the days when they did, or who look forward to that day. Thank you for realizing that ayes vote is the right thing.

Please say "Yes" to the Manhasset youth and to the schools on Tuesday, May 16.