Annually any county may make a tax levy on the taxable tangible property in the county in an amount not greater than the amount necessary to pay the direct expense of elections which the county is required to pay and for which the county is not reimbursed under the provisions of subsection (b) of K.S.A. 25-2201, and amendments thereto, and to pay a portion of the principal and interest on bonds issued under the authority of K.S.A. 12-1774, and amendments thereto, by cities located in the county. If a petition signed by 5% of the registered voters of any county is filed with the county election officer on or before July 10, 1974, requesting an election be held to determine whether the tax levy authorized by this section shall be permitted in such county, the county election officer shall hold a special question submitted election on the first Tuesday in August of 1974, in such county. The proposition shall be stated on the ballot as follows:
"Shall the board of county commissioners be authorized to make an annual tax levy on the taxable tangible property in the county to pay the direct expenses of certain elections of other subdivisions of governments as required by law."
If a majority of those voting on such question submitted are in favor of the proposition such county may in 1974 and thereafter immediately make the levy authorized in this section. If a majority of those voting on such question are against the proposition, and the board of county commissioners has theretofore included in its adopted budget any amount under authority of this section, such adopted budget and the tax levy therefor shall be reduced in an amount equal to the amount so budgeted, and no tax levy under this section shall be made in such county in 1974 or thereafter.
K.S.A. 25-2201a