The Building of New Tindale: Part 4: Taxes

[Starshadow]

Now that you have established your own town and are more or less independant, you will have to establish ways to make the people help pay your way. You must determine hopw to tax your people.

While you could be generous and claim there will be no taxes, such a plan would lead to ruin as people flock to the town, over-populate it, bring unemployment and crime, a burden on municipal functions like sanitation and security, and eventually break even the wealthiest of adventurers.

In the typical population, maybe 1 - 5% of people are well off, expert tradesmen or nobles who might make over a thousand gold per year. A highly skilled tradesman, like an expert blacksmith, might make between 300 and 400 gold per year. A typical carpenter or mason might make 25 gold per year, and unskilled workers probably earn more like 15 gold per year.

So maybe the entires town population's income might be between 15,000 and 25,000 gold falcons per year, depending on who lives there, and that doesn't count you wealthy adventurers.

The king will ask a tax of you of 1,000 gold per year, and perhaps more in times of need. You need to collect from the folks making money in your town.

You may choose to accept cash or services, take a percentage of income, property value or levy a sales tax. It's up to you, but you need to discuss a method of taxation, and perhaps hire a stweard or tax collector as well.

[Starshadow]

One other thing related to this.

Based on population and type, you will be unable to purchase anything in New Tindale that is worth more than 3,000 gp per item. A population base such as this is unable to produce more than that, and a larger city must be sought out for more valuable items.

This does not include what PC's are able to craft..only what they can buy.

[Lyssandra]

We have approached this issue a little in the game when Chisholm reported the starting capital had been exhausted. Shanti's boost to the coffers is generous, but will hardly suffice for the long term.

A small percentile tax should not cause hardship to the populace nor the economy at this stage. With a population nearing 2,000 even a 1-2 percent tax should generate plenty of income to cover Tindale's tax to Hrothgar and build the town coffers.

[Dramavictim]

Here's the area where my characters would disagree with each other. Kel believes that each man has a right to what he earns, but Thurvold will point out the community's needs are greater than any one man's. IE, the CG and LG have different attitudes on this [img]wink.gif[/img]

Thurvold will point out that, while it would be a wonderful world if everyone was honest on their taxes, they often aren't. Kel will point out that you can't blame men for defending whats theirs, even if it is with lies.

However, in the end, they will agree that if the gods want 10% from worshippers, it isn't unreasonble for the town to expect that or less from each citizen.

Kel would add the payment should not be in coin all the time. Services or goods represent wealth to many, and should be almost as good as silver. If a tax collector is selected, he should be a man (or woman) of exceptional character, fair judgement, and sharp eyes.

[Lyssandra]

No argument there. My characters are in a similar IC situation, or perhaps even more at odds.

Allie IS a rogue after all...even though she's good, she's hardly lawful in outlook (sleight of hand and move silently are her better rogue skills) ...while Celene is a paladin sworn to uphold the law, serve justice and work for the greater good.

A fair and honest taxation will thus be no problem for Celene. Expect a 'grin and bear it' attitude from the halfling though. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Carbon14sample]

A two percent tax sounds resonable at this stage of New Tindale. Thaylias will talk to his friends that have perhaps more knoweledge on the subject. Maybe someone skilled in such things might be found while in Talagon who will wish to move to New Tindale.
Maybe once we are more established taxation could be better delegated to what bracket of income citizens fall in.. In other words maybe in our fantasy world we can really tax the rich.

[Carbon14sample]

Just a note, Thaylias will by no means make/ take any income from New Tindale. Like Shanti he too is putting some coin into the coffers. Selling off gems while in Talagon and will mention / record once I have it figured out.