Whenever the board of county commissioners of any county is presented with a petition signed by at least 30 percent of the taxpayers in such county or in each of a group of counties asking that an annual tax be levied for the establishing and maintenance of a public hospital, at a place in the county or counties named therein, and specifying the maximum amount of money proposed to be expended in purchasing or building the hospital, including the acquisition of a site, the board of county commissioners shall, after a compliance with and subject to the provisions of NRS 350.011 to 350.0165, inclusive, submit the question of issuing bonds therefor to the qualified electors of the county at the next general election to be held in the county, as provided in NRS 350.020 to 350.070, inclusive.