Concerned that new homes are not paying for all the services they require, Goochland County is considering asking developers to pay up to $2,164 in fees per house they build to offset the cost of new schools, libraries and fire stations.

"We have to make sure the growth we are facing can pay its way. And that's what the cash proffer system is all about," said Assistant County Administrator Robert A. Hammond.

Under the proposal, developers would voluntarily pay the fees as part of their land rezoning requests. Builders could offer the county land or capital improvements instead of money.

Legally, the program must be voluntary, so the county could not reject rezoning applications solely because developers have not offered to pay the fees. County officials, however, could frown on developers who do not offer such contributions, which would be negotiable.

County supervisors are scheduled to discuss the idea at a work session tonight.

News about the proposal comes as Capital One plans to build a 1.5 million-square-foot of- fice campus in West Creek for about 6,000 employees. By 2004, the county expects to have 194 new households, 551 more residents and 58 additional public school students as a result of the project.

"We have to very carefully examine all of our building and zoning requirements so we are ready for the expansion of not only Capital One but the Short Pump shopping center, which will have an enormous impact on us," District 5 Supervisor James W. Eads said while referring to a shopping center proposed for a site just off West Broad Street.

The county experienced a spike in residential growth last year when it issued 264 building permits compared with previous years when it gave out 200, Hammond said. With 18,500 residents, Goochland is already building a $22 million high school and has approved spending $1.2 million on a new library.

"It's something a lot of the counties around us are doing," Goochland Board of Supervisors Chairman James T. Taylor of District 3 said about collecting cash proffers. "And it's one of the ways to control growth."

Chesterfield County increased the maximum in cash proffers it collects from $6,200 to $7,800 per home in June. Chesterfield's decision came about a month after Stafford County officials decided to raise their proffers from $4,805 to $20,399. Hanover accepts up to $6,819 per home and Henrico does not accept proffers.

Critics have said these types of fee could increase home prices and make it more difficult for low-income families to find houses in the greater Richmond area. "Every time you raise these types of fees, it blocks somebody out from the opportunity for housing," Mike Toalson, executive vice president of the Richmond-based Home Builders Association of Virginia, said in a previous interview after Chesterfield and Stafford increased their fees.

Eads said he favors the cash proffer idea and luring more businesses to Goochland as ways to pay for county services and infrastructure.

"The alternative is to do nothing, in which case the only way you could fund those services is through a general tax increase," he said. "Where else would you get the money?"