There's a lot of back-and-forth subsidies that often aren't considered. In Philadelphia, for example, the city public transportation network (SEPTA) also serves

There's a lot of back-and-forth subsidies that often aren't considered. In Philadelphia, for example, the city public transportation network (SEPTA) also serves the suburbs. In fact, the bulk of its revenue comes from train service to those surrounding suburbs. The local subway/buses in the city will be hard pressed to operate at the loss they are now if ridership on the suburban trains stays low. The city also has the highest wage tax in the nation >4%, more than half of which is still due if you commute in. Unsurprisingly, these suburban commuters represent a huge line item in the city's revenue - that is gone if everyone is WFH. City schools also receive the bulk of their funding from the state, unlike suburban schools which are paid mostly out of local taxes. In the Philly area at least, the city would never survive without its rich suburbs.