Stafford Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Susan Stimpson needs a lesson in basic business and simple arithmetic. In "Stafford looking at road impact fees" [Sept. 5], she commented that "she's concerned the fees would be passed on to home buyers. 'What is the impact to families?' she said."

Of course the fees will be passed on. No businessman absorbs costs out of the goodness of his heart. But it is a very appropriate passing along of costs.

If by purchasing a house in Stafford County you increase the costs of maintaining infrastructure, you should pay that bill. Further, if that cost is not borne by the buyer, how does Stimpson believe it is paid? It must be funded by taxes on the existing taxpayers in the county.

Why is she not questioning the impact to those families, her current constituents, instead of some hypothetical future county resident?

The fees are appropriate and should receive unanimous approval by the board. If they do not, we should remember in coming Novembers who voted to raise our taxes.

Joe Gherlone

Stafford