When any county has audited or allowed claims for county expenses or county purposes that are outstanding and that, when added to the sum levied for county purposes, exceed the sum of 25 cents on the $100 valuation of property, the county board may, by an order entered of record setting forth substantially the amount of the outstanding claims, provide for the submission of the question of issuing the bonds of the county for such sum as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose to a vote of the people of the county at a regular election after the passage of the resolution. The county board shall certify the resolution and the proposition to the proper election officials, who shall submit the proposition at a regular election in accordance with the general election law.
     The county board of any county having a population in excess of 200,000 may issue bonds for the purpose of paying claims for county expenses or county purposes audited or allowed by the county board without submitting the question of issuing the bonds to a vote of the people of the county. These bonds shall mature within 10 years from the date of issuance. The aggregate principal amount of bonds to pay such claims that may ever be issued without being authorized by referendum shall not exceed $2,500,000.