With the City of Metropolis experiencing an over $1.7 million shortfall this fiscal year, council members have decided to put next year’s city scholarship program on hold, a move they hope will help the 2012-13 budget.

The announcement was made during the Jan. 23 city council meeting by Alderman Bob Midnight, who is the chairman of the city’s Education Committee.

Midnight said he informed the committee that day of the council’s decision.

“The committee does understand that and does appreciate the situation we find ourselves in,” he told the council. “The committee did like to emphasize the fact we will still be there so if and when the time arises we can find money again to subsidize scholarships for our citizens, they will be ready to function. They were sorry that the situation is where it’s at; they feel just as bad as we do about this, they understand it.”

The city’s scholarship program has become something many of Metropolis’ college-bound students have grown to expect. It began in 1993 when the gambling boat came to the city. Scholarships have been given by the city government to city residents going to college or for specialized training.  The actual amount was based on need and the cost of each school and was awarded throughout the student’s education process.

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