(1) Subject to subsection (2), 1 or more counties may join to form a community college district by a majority vote of the electors residing in the proposed district. Before the election is held, the board or joint boards of education of the intermediate school districts of the counties affected must obtain the approval of the formation of the proposed community college district and the proposed maximum annual tax rate from the superintendent of public instruction.

    (2) For the purposes of this chapter, a county may form a community college district even though a portion of that county is a part of an existing community college district. That portion of the county shall not be included in the area of the proposed community college district and the electors who reside in that portion of the county are not eligible to vote at the organizational election or at any succeeding community college district elections.