The MTA argued it needed to raise fares to close a two-year deficit it estimated , at different times , to be $ 952 million or $ 2.8 billion .
The MTA had argued it needed to raise fares to close a two-year deficit it estimated at different times ranged from less than $ 1 billion to $ 2.8 billion .
Urban hospitals have traditionally been reimbursed at higher rates on the belief that medical treatment is less expensive in small cities and towns .