At the special township meeting for public disclosure of the findings of the engineer, the freeholders of the township in attendance are entitled to vote on the question of whether to proceed with the improvement project. Upon approval by sixty percent or more of the votes cast at the meeting or votes filed with the township clerk within fifteen days after the meeting, the improvement project may proceed. A freeholder affected by the project is entitled to one vote for each dollar of the proposed special assessment against the freeholder’s property within the proposed improvement district. If there is more than one owner of a parcel of property, the votes available for the parcel must be prorated among the owners in accordance with each owner’s percentage interest in the property. If fewer than sixty percent of the votes cast or filed on the question approve the project, the election result is a bar against proceeding further with the improvement project described in the plans and specifications. An election result barring proceeding further with the improvement project does not preclude the payment of any costs incurred in developing the plans, specifications, cost estimates, or other costs which must be paid from the general fund of the township. If the costs incurred pose a financial burden on the general levy of a township of forty percent or more, the board of township supervisors may levy and collect assessments from the improvement district in yearly assessments not exceeding five years. If under forty percent, the township may use methods approved by law.