Or by applying maintenance at the right time to keep streets in good condition -- see, for example, the chart here: https://www.bloomingtonmn.gov/sites/default/files/media/PMP-...

If you're curious about your city, key question to ask is whether they have a pavement condition database. If they don't, they have no idea what the right amount of maintenance is. If they do, they should be able to predict whether they are spending at the right rate, and predict the same for the next several years.