In recent weeks, Metrolink has experienced unfavorable publicity, with revelation of a significant funding shortfall for light rail extensions. Voters in the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County had approved a sales tax in 1994 to operate and extend Metrolink. St. Louis County officials are withholding $33 million in subsidies from the urban transport operator, the Bi-State Development Agency, until a route into St. Louis County is approved. Concern was expressed that funding intended for light rail construction was being used to finance bus operations.

The St. Louis city and county sales tax was approved by voters in 1994 when Bi-State threatened to close the light rail line if the tax was not approved. Local officials had insisted that no new tax would be required when the line was approved in the late 1980s.

A similar tax proposal was resubmitted to the voters in the November 1996 election and also rejected.