Sure, but having the home owners come together in some kind of association to take on some basic services makes the suburbs slightly more sustainable for the city. When the city does everything for the suburbs it's a serious problem - the infrastructure costs more because of the huge lots and lack of housing density so they have to build more. Dense urban areas generate more tax revenue and most suburbs and neighborhoods of single family homes end up costing cities money, it's one more way society subsidizes the lives of wealthier people.