For those dedicated mayors playing simcity deluxe (v.1.0.1) on Iphone
[After spending six months with unsatisfactory results in building a wonderful simcity, I decided to take a radical approach to my simcity; with some success finally. This is guide for those still struggling to be the good mayor. I hope this helps.]
In my opinion, Simcity is about balancing the finance to the problems of a growing city. In simpler words, it is how to spend money wisely to grow the city to bring in more money to further grow the city.
There are 2 major areas of concern: maximizing income and minimizing expenditure.
Income depends largely on the number of population living in the city. Generally more population means more income. But having more population also means increasing expenditure to keep the population in. Therefore there is a need to control the influx of the population without straining the expenditure. The control lies in the amount of expenditure spend on growth and expansion. As a result, there is a need for a financial strategy
As I am a conservative person, I took on a less risky strategy. Firstly, I never allow my reserve to dip below $20,000. Starting off on the easy level, I spent only $25,000 out of the $50,000 issued for the first 5 years in starting the city.
Secondly, I make sure my monthly total expense is only half of my monthly total income. You can explore by yourself which are the expenses you can save up. I can give you 2 hints. I have only 1 fire station till 1950 and my roads expense is always at 100%.
Thirdly, I spend only half of the annual net income on developing zones and save the rest. Civics buildings are built only when they are full.
But even with this strategy in place, it does not guarantee a successful city. The reason is because we lower our taxes under pressure to keep our population. The tickers below kept reminding us the taxes are too high and people are packing their bags. Even our financial advisor says our taxes are too high and request us to drop the tax. This situation will first occur around 1930s where the population stagnates and people demand taxes to lower and it will occur periodically as the years goes by. In the 1930s I lowered my tax from 7 to 6% as I have enough income to maintain my 50% expenses.
But I decided not to lower my taxes in 1950s as I will make a lost and boldly take on another approach. Instead I increased my tax level from 6 to 7% for the first year and then to 8% for the second year. At the same time, I increased my monthly expenses in the other departments especially in police and education but keeping in line with my strategy. I decided my population should pay more if they wanted a better city.
To my surprise, my population bloomed even though they threatened to leave the city as announced in the tickers. It is then that I realized the increased value of the city can out-weigh the population desire to leave the city and attract even more population to come. But here is the crux, never go above 8%. I tried 9% and population dropped rapidly. Luckily for me, there is a rewind in Simcity universe.
With this strategy, my reserve was $50,000 by 1975 and $100,000 by 1985. Right now in 2018, my reserve is $240,000 with annual net income of $20,000 and a population of 400,000. Do note I already built the 3 costly projects which are the science research centre, the stadium and the amusement park and most of my ordinance are on by 2000. I have now a steady income that I can adjust my city without worrying about money and start to lower my taxes.
You will realized I never let out any details on minimizing expenditures in this post. That is for you, dedicated mayors to figure out. But I hope the above helps.
Some hints on expenditures though:
1) I started build my rails only in 1970s and still not completed. Save a lot of money though.
2) Not all ordinances are critical. On them only when you have the money.
3) Save the game before building the seaport and airport. They really may not build even when you have everything right especially the seaport.
Good luck to you, fellow Simcity mayors!
Whoapa, Simcity Mayor of RICH
