We are at the dawn of an exciting future. Upper Sanctuary is finally to be reunited with its brother, Lower Sanctuary. There is little doubt left that this action is the best for all of us. Regardless, the unification will place a heavy strain on the city's pockets.

Currently, the Council governs over about 1137 residents of Sanctuary. After the Council assumes Lower, they will need to care for an additional 290 residents, demanding more funding for city defense in particular.

At present, even the Lower Council has too much on their plate, and the funding they give their footmen and mercenaries is barely enough to keep order in the streets.

The Council needs money, and the average 'Joe' (to be ironic) is crying out in injustice as, while they seem to be the favorite targets of Watch members during tax collection days, adventurers in all their bountiful wealth are left largely untouched. In effect, our current system of taxation ensures that the poor get poorer, and the rich get richer.

Thus, I suggest tougher enforcement on adventuring taxes. While Council representatives are unlikely to be able to approach the majority of Adventurers about money with a satisfactory degree of success, more honest responses might be extracted from employers.

The idea is to have a system of registration for the hiring of adventurers, controlled by Treasury Officials. The process would be relatively simple - a citizen hoping to have her basement cleared of demonic dust bunnies or whatever it happens to be at the time would need to visit a treasury official, and communicate the proposed reward for the deed, along with the agreement that said citizen would pay the standard 5% (negotiable?) of the reward money to Sanctuary once business is resolved (assuming that at least 100 gold pieces is awarded). Much as how Spellguard registration works, being caught hiring adventurers without a permit will incur fines and imprisonment - essentially whatever the penalty for failing to pay taxes happens to be at the time.

With the sort of money that adventurers carry around, I imagine that these adventuring taxes will give a generous and well-needed boost to city funds. You don't need me to help you imagine the possibilities this presents.

- Joe Blogs, Office of the Treasurer