Voters reject Proposition M

KSDK -- Metro is in search for a new plan of action after an upsetting defeat at the polls.

St. Louis County voters rejected the sales tax hike known as Proposition M.

A lot of people depend on Metro to get around town, but when it came down to it, there just weren't enough people to say "yes" to Proposition M.

The measure was defeated 52 percent to 48 percent with nearly 510,000 people voting.

Critics accuse Metro of wasting taxpayers' dollars and cite poor management.

The former CEO resigned after coming under fire for his handling of the agency.

Metro said it had a strong case for the tax increase. It's faced with a $45 million budget deficit.

Proposition M would have given the agency $80 million a year. Metro said that would have made it possible to maintain bus and call-a-ride services. Those services are in jeopardy of being reduced or eliminated.

The three professional sports teams in St. Louis said the defeat of Proposition M is a big upset to them and their fans because many people use Metro's services for sporting events downtown.