Community college petition submitted for certification

A petition calling for a vote to create a community college in Idaho Falls has been submitted to Bonneville County for certification.

The petition, bearing 3,400 signatures, was submitted to the county election office by “Citizens for Affordable Higher Education” Friday.

Spokesman Steve Taggart said verification of the signatures is expected to take until late December or early January.

If certified, the petition will be forwarded to the State Board of Education for approval. Taggart said the Board would have 30 days to report back to the Bonneville County Commission, which could then put the issue on the ballot.

The group hopes to have the issue on the May 16, 2017 ballot.