Description

The Simulation page is used to present the Cumulative Net Fiscal Impact for all of the jurisdictions as a percentage of total expenditures. The arrowheads on the dial represent each jurisdiction and the impact is shown as a percentage of total expenditures. The drop-down menu located below the Jurisdiction table allows the user to select the head that is represented on the dial. Using this switch, the dial can display Net Total Impact, Net Operating Impact or Net Capital Impact.

The red part of the gauge signifies the net negative fiscal deficit whereas the green portion of the gauge represents the net positive fiscal impact. The year of the simulation is shown below the dial to keep track of the cumulative fiscal impact on an annual basis.

Running the Simulation

The simulation can be run by pressing the Play button on the presentation toolbar. The simulation would run for the entire time period of the analysis, which in this case is a 20-year horizon. The time settings of the simulation can be changed using the Simulation Settings option under the Simulation Menu.

The simulation can also be run by selecting the Advance Simulation One Step tool, which allows the simulation to run stepwise. Users can then view the yearly cumulative net fiscal impact of the model. To reset the simulation, simply click the Reset Simulation button.

Policy Options

The Simulation page has various policy options that can be accessed through the Level of Service, Revenue and Land Use links. A user can follow these links to make changes under each option and then run the simulation to see how different policy changes affect the financial feasibility of the comprehensive plan. This model is designed to be an interactive tool for users to select multiple scenarios and estimate the associated fiscal impacts.

The Instructions link takes the user to a page describing the important caveats to consider and gives a brief explanation of how to proceed through the model. The Disclaimer link opens a page describing the Statement of Copyright and the process of sharing and distributing the model by third parties.