The logic for the exponential payments is that at the time the first contract was signed, $2 was a significant fraction of Society reserves. The predictable increases were intended to give the Society both the incentive and the time needed to obtain a [[Headquarters]] outside the Consuls' home; not to impoverish or take over the Society (though should the Board fail to obtain a Headquarters, that would soon be the effect).
Consuls have expressed a willingness to negotiate lower or no increases if the [[Board]] demonstrates concrete progress toward the goal of an independent Headquarters facility. To encourage this, starting with the 2016 contract, payment will be split in half; the first half due in January, and the second half due in July, giving Consuls the opportunity to waive half the fee if the Society — in their sole opinion — has made significant progress toward moving out in the first six months. Should the rent be thus reduced, the following year's rent would be twice the reduced amount. Thus continuous progress would result in freezing the rent.
Another proposal that has been offered would cap the rent at the annual revenue of the Investment Fund, provided that the Society deposit ten percent (10%) of gross revenues into the Investment Fund. This proposal won't be worthy of consideration until 2019, at which point it would offer measurable savings to the Society.
With the upcoming termination of the office of Consul, contracts will still need to be executed annually for Headquarters space in the Metcalfs' home. They have expressed the intent intend to continue the fee schedule described above, including reductions in the event of significant progress by the Board toward moving out.
==Official Duties==