Upon receipt of a petition, the county clerk shall check it as to its sufficiency as provided by section 552 of Act No. 116 of the Public Acts of 1954, as amended, being section 168.552 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. If the petition substantially complies with this act, the county board of commissioners shall order by resolution that the question of providing separate tax limitations be submitted to the registered and qualified electors of the county at the next general election, state presidential primary election, or state general primary election, occurring in not less than 49 days after adoption of the resolution. If such election will not be held within 90 days after adoption of the resolution, the resolution may fix a date for a special election on the question not less than 49 days after adoption of the resolution.