City services

City services depend on capacity, staffing, funding and travel time.

Start with Services → Civic and the relevant map layer. Inspect the building to distinguish a shortage of staff, funding, capacity or access.

Placing and sizing a facility

Choose a facility and size from the build menu. Use R to rotate a non-square footprint.

Larger buildings provide more capacity, often using land and staff more efficiently. A bigger building may still be too far away for some residents. Smaller facilities distributed through the city may provide shorter trips than one large facility in a corner.

Coverage, capacity and outcomes

Service reports identify the main problem: Understaffed, Insufficient capacity, Slow route, Underfunded or Disconnected.

Schools and university

Elementary schools, high schools and universities serve different education levels. Children need an available place at a school they can reach.

Use the Elementary access, High school access and University access layers to find gaps. Society → Education shows enrolment across the city.

A School Bus Depot supplies its own fleet and drivers, funded through education. It can improve access for pupils beyond walking range. Ordinary bus service and school buses are different systems; a school building does not include its own fleet.

Education influences the city's future workforce and its ability to attract and staff more demanding jobs. See Residents and jobs.

Police, fire and healthcare

Traffic and worn roads can slow police, fire and healthcare responses. Their map layers show the areas affected by slow routes or poor service.

Empty or neglected buildings carry extra fire risk.

Housing support and amenities

Shelters help residents facing homelessness but have limited capacity. Combine support with affordable housing and reachable work. See Services → Housing and the Homelessness layer.

See Parks and environment for green space and other amenities.

Budgets and staff

Funding cuts can reduce operating capacity and available vehicles. The budget reports show staff and upkeep costs.

Check Employment if several services struggle to recruit: schools, hospitals and other workplaces compete for the same workers and skills.

Arcade unlocks

The first confirmed complaints unlock basic education, police, fire protection, healthcare, shelters and parks. Other facilities and larger sizes unlock at population milestones. Once earned, a tool stays unlocked through a downturn.

Simulation offers the full catalogue from the start.