Community College idea on the move

Citizens for Affordable Higher Education submitted 192 petitions and received close to 3,400 signatures, which are now being verified by the Bonneville County Election Office.

One of the requirements for creating a community college is establishing a community district. What the district does is it pays property taxes towards the college.

According to spokesman for Citizens for Affordable Higher Education Steve Taggart this will cost the average home owners in Bonneville County $13.30 per year, which means that local residents will benefit from receiving cheaper education.

“If a person does perhaps ten credits at the community college compared to Idaho State University a person would save about $2,000,” Taggart said.

He also said, “If a person were to take ten credits at Brigham Young University then they would save $500.00. This community college will save families money.”

Taggart said if a person comes from a different county they would have to pay a little more than Bonneville County residents who pay taxes on the community college.

“So far we have 3,400 signatures. We are looking forward to the next step in the process,” Taggart said.

The next step will be that the measure will go to Idaho’s State Board of Education for Approval, they have 30 days to review the measure. Then it will be sent back to the Bonneville County Commission to be placed on the ballot.

The ballot question needs to be submitted to the Bonneville County Election Office by Mar. 27.