Politician Archive
Thread: Money Sink is One thing.. but seriously
slugeater wrote:
Answer: get successful merchants in town.
Exactly - why does everyone always think their citizens should pay for the city? Make the visitors pay! 
In my city, if I turn the sales tax to 1%, I can bring in 500k a day in taxes. I run the sales tax for 1-2 days per week and that is more than enough to pay for everything. And it costs my citizens very little.
I do think the gardens might be a tad expensive though and that they could be toned down. But they are completely optional. You can have a fully functional metropolis in place with a couple gardens for 500k per week - thats not bad at all. Moderation is the key I think - leave the excessive gardens and such for people that have nothing better to spend their money on (these people need the money sinks).
that is true for gorath too about taxes on sales.. our city has a few of the top crafters in thier field living within its boarders.. one main problem with sales tax on our server is the undercutting is terrible.. already a few crafts sell their products less than they could sell the resources to make them .. we have been considering a 1% sales tax.. but it is risky .. on our server customers are only loyal so far.. and if the crafters drop their prices to compensate then we are at the same problem.. on body or group is supporting the town..
and as for gardens and not using them .. that is not an option.. why else have a city if you cannot make different from the suburbs surrounding every major NPC city ..??
Are cities going broke and disbanding?
I had thought a lot of cities would go belly up and people would congregate in a couple large cities, except for some guild cities. Maintaince is obviously not an issue.
The city I live in has zero taxes. The only fee is a 100 cr for using the shuttleport.
I personally donate 10k a week just for the heck of it.
How anyone in this game can't afford 10k a week is very strange. Just pick up a personal harvester off the bazaar and stick it down and that will get you 50k a week in resources without doing any work.
In my city, gardens have brought out the most civic minded folks. I had all of the gardens and fountains donated. And in each case someone has stepped up to sponsor a garden or fountain. If the cost of things become a burden, send an email to 'citizens' telling them that something will be removed is someone does not step up to sponsor it. And you will be surprised at how much support (and ingame interaction) this will generate.
And if no one steps up, remove what is not supported. This will reduce your cost and solve the problem. But I am willing to bet that someone would step up. Especially if they can have some crafter make them a statue or fountain in their name.
"On Ahazi at least, no successful merchant will come within a light year of a city that has sales tax."
That's a mistake from them. In my city, we have a commerce lane where a customer can find pretty much anything he wants. (Within reason). We have a very lucrative resource tent where you can find dozens of different reources by the hundreds of thousands. We have Master Weaponsmiths, Master Armorsmiths, Master Chefs, Spices of all kinds in the cantina (/em whistles). Seeing another vendor promotes trade.
Your lone weaponsmith won't pay taxes. He also won't get the customers that came to buy armor and saw a weaponsmith shop and went to have a look. IMHO, he loses some money there.
Holy, What is your Tax Breakdown?
I'm not sure how the income tax works, but our city is in the same boat as some others and feel that a sales tax deters customers. None of our merchants want it. If the income tax is not actually based on income, and is a flat rate, that's no good as some make more than others. Property Tax can only go so far as there are many cities that advertise no taxes to get people to join...
Vadikar wrote:
Holy, What is your Tax Breakdown?
I'm not sure how the income tax works, but our city is in the same boat as some others and feel that a sales tax deters customers. None of our merchants want it. If the income tax is not actually based on income, and is a flat rate, that's no good as some make more than others. Property Tax can only go so far as there are many cities that advertise no taxes to get people to join...
our taxes right now are .. 1700 income.. and 11% property .. on average works out to be about 2800 a week..
we are toying with the idea of a 1% sales tax.. but it will be tuff.. for the market reasons posted above and i have a few powerhouse merchants that do 10million in business a week alone .. and takes in 10 mil in offeres. a week too.. so that one will get hit hard from both ends.. yes high volume.. but still low profit margins..theyare involved in heavily roleplay andhave several employes that they pay..
I would be more inclined to do this if the sales tax was removed from the offers category merchants that use their vendors as intended by having them as drop off depots shouldnt get double taxed..
the things is that..... think about this... if I was a powergamer...
I would get a house (outside of a city) near a town... and use it facilities without taxes and such.... in a player town I can get ban from them.. but can't get ban from a NPC town... I would get a small house... and use a bank to fill it with all the stuff I need and just play and kill all day longer and level to get my jedi..
The need for gardens, cities, parks, and such are of no importants if it doesn't increase my leveling speed.. (at least this was explain to me as a powergamer I know a few)
The cities are mainly roleplaying aspect... design mainly to roleplayers.. a powergammer have not much to gain from a city except maybe a bank,cloning, med center close together.. and some trainers... (but even at max level 5.. limit to 15 out of 33 classes)
so... casual and role players are taking a hit.... a big hit.. I think the maint fee might be a little too high.. a slight cut would be good... I play (or try to play) 2 hours a day... give or take.. and I may have like 1 mil credit to my name.. usually not long....
not everyone is as luck.. some barely making by trying to get the armor.. buying meds, buffs.. and weapon cost.. with power ups.. food... drinks.. pet foods etc etc....
unless the city are run by power gamers or heavy players (play more than 8+ hours a day) it is hard to run a city...
I mean... as a crafter.. I would love a "balance" economy.. but with unlimited money factor.. it will never happen...