The Free Lance-Star reported that Stafford Supervisor Paul Milde thinks the decision of whether or not to rebuild Stafford High School should be put to a referendum ["Stafford High plan under fire," Nov. 1]. He claims concerns about the cost and necessity of a new high school.

I am concerned about the expenditures for the county Board of Supervisors and School Board if they are unable to perform the duties that we elected them to perform.

I looked at the county budget for this coming year and saw that $607,066 is allocated to the Board of Supervisors. I assume the amount for the School Board is similar. One reason for a representative government is so that we don't have to hold an election for every single decision.

I don't want to vote on how many and what type of paper clips we are buying for the schools. I don't feel qualified to vote on what type of firearms would be best for our police force.

The Stafford County School Board held numerous public meetings on the issue of rebuilding Stafford High School. Members of the Capital Improvements Planning advisory committee spent more than two years researching and analyzing possible solutions for our overcrowded high schools.

The CIP is made up of residents representing each of Stafford's seven districts. They made recommendations to the School Board, which, in turn, made recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.

In the time that I have been living in Stafford County, we have built 10 schools. Not once was the decision put out for public referendum.

So, I ask the Stafford County Board of Supervisors to do the job for which they were elected and are paid. A majority of the supervisors have voted to rebuild Stafford High School. Stop stalling and rebuild it, already!

Sarah Chase

Stafford