The governing bodies of the participating counties are empowered to authorize the authority to issue general obligation bonds whose proceeds must be used in furtherance of any power of the authority under the procedures prescribed in this chapter. If, upon its own finding or upon petition of the authority, a participating county’s governing body shall determine that it may be in the interest of the authority to raise moneys for the furtherance of any power of the authority, it shall order a public hearing to be held upon the question of the issuance of bonds of the authority. Two or more of the county governing bodies may elect to jointly hold the public hearing required by this section.