Line item numbers raise questions I would like to respond to the letter "Middletown residents deserve better public servants" written by Lawrence Nelsen published in your paper Dec. 27. I would also like to acknowledge Don Watson, who - as a guest columnist on Jan. 4 - answered many of Mr. Nelsen's false accusations. However, Mr. Watson left one of Mr. Nelsen's accusations against Committeeman-elect Patrick Short unanswered. It had to do with whether or not the Middletown Township Committee had doubled its compensation (pay) over the past few years. When Mr. Short stated during this past election that the Township Committee doubled its compensation, he was correct. If Mr. Nelsen - or anyone else for that matter - took the time to look over the township budget for the past few years, he would see this and questions would be raised. Instead, what you had was Mayor Thomas Hall heatedly denying this claim stating that the Township Committee had not taken a pay raise since 1982, and calling Mr. Short a liar. Well, in the township budgets, under the line "Township Committee Salary and Wages~" 2005 Payroll Line Item 5-01-20-110-100-101~ and 2006 Payroll Line Item 6-01-20-110-100-101~ are markedly different. During 2005, twice a month, this line item was paid $2,318.24, but for 2006, this line item was marked twice per month for $4,241.32. Why is that? It most definitely looks like a doubling of compensation to me, and until this question is answered or explained, I would say that Mr. Short was correct. Michael Morris Middletown