=========  F R E Q U E N T L Y   A S K E D   Q U E S T I O N S  =========



SimCity 2000 FAQ Part 3

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have access to the World-Wide Web, see the latest HTML Translation 
and Update of this document by Michael Hanson: 

    URL = http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~hanson/simcity_2000.faq.html
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... Budget and Other Windows ...

3.1 PROPERTY TAXES

3.1.1 Q: How much should I set property taxes at?
      A: Well, 7% is pretty much standard. If you lower
         it, that will stimulate growth. If you raise it,
         that will stifle growth.

3.1.2 Q: How is property tax revenue figured?
      A: Use the following formula:
         
         Population * Property tax rate * 1.29 = Tax Revenue
          
          or, if you are taxing zones at different rates:
         
         Rpop * Rtax * 1.29 + Cpop * Ctax * 1.29 + Ipop * Itax * 1.29
         where Rpop = residential population
               Rtax = residential tax rate(in decimal, i.e. 0.07)
               Cpop, Ipop = commercial, industrial population
               Ctax, Itax = commercial, industrial tax rate

3.1.3 Q: Does property value have anything to do with tax
         revenue?         
      A: No, not directly. High property values encourage
         growth and higher densities. A piece of land will
         have more tax revenue if it is of a higher density.

3.2 CITY ORDINANCES    

3.2.1 Q: Why do ordinances get passed when I'm not looking?
      A: Ordinances will get passed at random if you do not
         have disasters turned off. Actually, the help says:
         "If you've been doing very well, the city counsellors
         sometimes take it into their heads to begin beneficial
         programs using public funds."

3.3 BOND PAYMENTS

3.3.1 Q: I'm running out of money. Should I take out a bond?
      A: Not if you can help it. If you can afford to spend
         $300-$700/year for interest, you can probably do
         without a bond. The only exception I can see is if
         a disaster destroys your only power plant.

3.3.2 Q: How many outstanding bonds can I have?
      A: There is a maximum of 50.

3.3.3 Q: What determines the interest rate of the bond?
      A: The bond rate is determined by adding a percentage
         to the current fed rate. The percentages are as follows:
            
            Rating    Added Percentage
              AAA         +1%
               AA         +2%
                A         +3%
                B         +4%
                C         +5%
                D         +6%
                F         +7%

3.3.4 Q: What determines my credit rating?
      A: I believe that it's a combination of city value and
         outstanding debt.


3.4 MAP

3.4.1 Q: None, so far.
      A: Ditto



3.5 GRAPHS
3.5.1 Q: How is traffic measured?
      A: The number on the traffic graph is the average number
         of cars/minute on all roads, highways, bridges. This
         means that you can artificially lower your traffic
         level by building lots of roads out in the middle of
         nowhere.

3.5.2 Q: How is pollution measured?
      A: In parts per million. Several different types of
         buildings, most notably industrial and power plants,
         give off a certain level of pollution. The pollution
         value is a sum of all the pollution levels divided
         by the amount of tiles occupied by development. Thus,
         adding zones that don't pollute, such as a zoo, will
         lower the value given in the pollution graph.

3.5.3 Q: What do the power% and water% numbers mean?
      A: This is an inverse percentage of usage - the amount
         of power or water that you have surplus.

3.5.4 Q: How is unemployment figured?
      A: The level of unemployment seems to be directly related
         to declines in R, C, or I levels. Growth in these areas
         will lower unemployment.



3.6 POPULATION

3.6.1 Q: None, so far.
      A: Ditto.



3.7 CITY INDUSTRY

3.7.1 Q: Can I change all of the tax rates at once?
      A: In the city industry window, you can change all of the
         taxes rates at once by holding down the option key.

3.7.2 Q: Which industries need high EQ?

         Very High EQ
            Aerospace
            Electronics
         
         High EQ
            Petrochemicals
            Automotive
         
         Good EQ
            Finance
            Media


3.7.3 Q: Which industries pollute?
          
         Heavy Pollution
            Steel/Mining
            Textiles
            Petrochemicals
            Automotive</ul>
         
         Mild Pollution
            Food
            Electronics
            Tourism



3.8 NEIGHBORS

3.8.1 Q: Can I change the names of my neighbors?
      A: Not easily, if at all. You would probably have to alter
         your copy of SC2K with ResEdit.

3.8.2 Q: What other names are possible?
      A: Oak Creek, Denmont, Fort Verdegris, Schwinton, Mill
         Valley, Petaluma, PortVille, Ashland, Eubanks, Aurac,
         Tent Pegs, Cherryton, Blake, Pioneers, Fortune,
         Phippsville, Jeromi, Harpersville, Washers Grove,
         Stars County, Villa, Serviland, Newton, Avon, Dexter,
         Sinistrel, Jenna, Yestonia, New Boots, Hoek Creek,
         Stimpleton, Little Rogue, Krighton, Cats Corner,
         Rimmer, Lister.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have access to the World-Wide Web, see the latest HTML Translation 
and Update of this document by Michael Hanson: 

URL = http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~hanson/simcity_2000.faq.html