Nassavix Policies

[Nashlan]

By Decree of Ulor Nashlan:

Let it be known that Nashlan, Ulor of Nassavix Province gives his full support to the taxation of dogs within the Empire. Furthermore, he decrees that he will be effecting this tax within the Province of Nassavix on Oron 1, Salgan 8, Adonsik 40, Vylor Cledman VI.

All owners of dogs will be required to pay a rate of 1 baylo per mutt dog per adonsik, up to a maximum of 5 bayla per adonsik. This money will be forwarded to Lord Chancellor Rubanya Cledman in order to set up the office of Ombudsman to investigate corruption within the Empire.

If the Lord Chancellor does not accept the payment, or the Imperial Council does not ratify the tax throughout the Empire within six Salgano then the money will instead be used for the benefit of the Nassavix Province.

[Gamemaster]

Haloman, advisor to Ulor Nashlan says to the Ulor, "Your excellency, there appears to be a mistake in your wise and beneficent decree. It refers to "Trassavix" Province. I can understand the confusion since you are from Trayavix province and have been appointed Ulor of Nassavix province. I am sure the people know what you meant, but already we have dog owners insisting that they don't have to pay the tax because they don't live in "Trassavix" province. Of course, there is no "Trassavix" province so it is obviously a mistake. Some of them say maybe you meant Trayavix, not Nassavix, but that's absurd as well since you are the Ulor of Nassavix, not Trayavix. I suggest an amended decree be issued to clear up this pretended confusion and leave the dog owners with no further excuses to delay paying the tax."

[Nashlan]

"Cursed Scribes! I'll have them fix it at once."

[Nashlan]

"And Haloman! While you are still here, I'd like to know why there is so little administrative documentation for this province. I'm doing the best I can but without knowing the state of our treasury or the number of troops in the garrison, there is a limit to what I can do. Heck, I don't even know how many people there are in Nassavix! Am I missing something?"

[Nashlan]

"In fact, Haloman, have we had a census here recently? Conduct one, I want to know the number of people in the Province, how much money they have, how much money WE have and so on. The lot."

[Gamemaster]

Haloman says, "Your excellency, here is the budget information you asked for," and hands the Ulor a scroll.


nationsandempires4.blogspot.com/2007/01/nassavix-budget.html

(OOC: If you can't see the budget on this link, scroll far down to see the budget. It's there, it just has a formatting problem.)

[Gamemaster]

Haloman says, "Your excellency, forgive me for not providing you with some basic information about the province earlier. So far as I know there has never been a formal census of Nassavix province. The estimated population is 75,000. There are three kantoro (phalanxes) of Imperial troops garrisoned in this province. They are under the command of the provincial commander, though there are some circumstances where an Ulor has commanded Imperial troops in an emergency. There are supposed to be 1,000 men per kantora, but they are nearly always understrength. There are currently 5,214 baylo in the provincial treasury."

[Nashlan]

Ulor Nashlan scans the scroll quickly, frowning as he does so.

"Haloman, this budget concerns me. Our revenue as a Province seems to be very low, and we are losing money. How did the old Ulor supplement his revenue?"

"This tax revenue works out at about 2 baylo per person, shouldn't this be higher?"

[Gamemaster]

Haloman says, "The previous Ulor supplemented his budget by borrowing. He also obtained additional funds from the Lord of the Exchequer. I don't know what the terms were. Two baylo per person per adonsik (year) is a fairly typical rate of taxation your excellency. Bear in mind that many of the people are women, children and elderly who have no income. Most peasants have no actual money, but pay their tax in crops. Even the merchants frequently pay their tax in kind rather than in coin."

[Gamemaster]

Haloman says, "Also, for the common people, two baylo is a lot of money. Bear in mind that military forces cost us less than five baylo per soldier per salgan (month) including food, lodgings, equipment and pay. And many soldiers support their families at that level of pay."

[Nashlan]

"Well, we need to find a way to reduce our deficit! Borrowing money will not help us in the long run. This is a coastal province right? Perhaps we could levy some taxes on merchants passing through the area. I don't know enough about this Province yet, do you have any suggestions?"

[Gamemaster]

Haloman says, "There is already a tax on all merchandise brought into or out of the province. You could raise it."

[Nashlan]

"That will only serve to reduce the amount of merchandise passing through. What about this Province's industries and natural resources, what do we have, do we tax it and is any of it under Imperial control or is it all private enterprise?"

Ulor Nashlan thinks for a time, before speaking again.

"I will also write to the Lord of the Exchequer, and find out if the treasury in Zekresh know any more about my predecessor's finances."

[Nashlan]

<Letter to the Treasury in Zekran, written in Zekresh and sent via Imperial Courier>

To Asnalyva, Lord of the Exchequer,

Greetings, I am writing to you from Salan Nassavix, where I have recently been appointed the office of Ulor. It appears that along with a Province, I have inherited a fine debt from my predecessor, as well as a treasury that is losing money. My advisor, Haloman, who also served with the previous Ulor has informed me that my predecessor borrowed money to supplement his debts, he also spoke of an arrangement with yourself to obtain further funding.

I wish to inquire, as far as it is my business, into your dealings with the late Ulor and what you know of his financial arrangements, as it is my wish to restore my treasury to a fitting state so that the appropriate payments to the Empire can be dispatched promptly.

Many thanks for your time.

Sincerely,
Ulor Nashlan of Salan Nassavix.

[Nashlan]

Ulor Nashlan calls his advisor Haloman.

"I have reconsidered, I believe we must raise taxes for the time being at least, as I don't want us depending on the Empire, and I'm sure they don't want that either. I've written a letter to the Lord of the Exchequer to inquire about the previous Ulor's arrangements, but raising money of our own would be a good idea too."

Glancing down at the financial records in front of him, Nashlan continues.

"We have a deficit of 28,500 Baylo, and debts of 124,557 more. I know you mentioned earlier that two Baylo was a large sum for commoners to pay, and so I've decided to focus increased taxes on the more wealthy. I want to raise taxes on merchandise entering and leaving the Province, I want to levy, or increase taxes if there already are some, on fishing boats or other vessels using wharves within the Province, and I would like to inspect the Kantoro to make sure that we are actually paying for a full complement of men! What do you think?"