(a) The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition: “Creation of a consolidated taxing district composed of the territory of _________________________ school districts, and authorizing the levy, assessment, and collection of annual ad valorem taxes for the maintenance of the public free schools within that taxing district at a rate not to exceed $_________ on the $100 valuation of taxable property.”
(b) The rate to be included in the proposition shall be provided by the agreement among the districts but may not exceed the maximum rate provided by law for independent school districts.