(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Voters in 13 area counties served by Iowa Western Community College will have an opportunity to vote on funding for the expansion and renovation of some the college’s facilities in November. On the ballot, will be a $55 million bond issue, the proceeds from which – if approved by the voters – would allow for the construction of a new diesel and automotive technology center on the college’s Council Bluffs campus, which has seen increased enrollment, and now needs more space in which to operate because classes are at full capacity.

Iowa Western President Dr. Daniel Kinney has said the welding, CDL and Diesel Tech programs are all full, while other career and technical programs are near capacity.

The bond measure would also allow for renovations at Iowa Western’s Clarinda and Atlantic Centers, which are also running out of space for training labs. Kinney has said the bond will not increase your property taxes, since some of their other bonds are expiring soon. The same tax rate currently in effect would continue, if the bond measure passes.

The measure to be found on the ballot during the November 5th General Election asks “Shall the Board of Directors of the Iowa Western Community College (Merged Area XIII) in the Counties of Adair, Adams, Audubon, Cass, Crawford, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $55,000,000 to provide funds to construct, furnish, and equip a new academic building and renovate, remodel, and improve existing buildings within the Merged Area XIII?”