(a) In a county with a river that flows through it or forms part of its boundary, the commissioners court of the county may, on voter approval, make expenditures from the general fund, or any other available county fund, to conduct an investigation and assemble information relating to the present and future water needs of the county inhabitants and to the feasibility of developing the water resources of the river for uses in the county.
(b) To obtain the voter approval required by Subsection (a), the commissioners court must order an election at which each qualified voter of the county is entitled to vote. The court shall determine the maximum cost of the proposed investigation and shall order the ballots for the election to be printed to provide for voting for or against the proposition: “Spending county funds for the purpose of making a survey of water resources, in an amount not to exceed $________ (the maximum amount determined by the court).”

(c) If a majority of the ballots cast at the election are in favor of the expenditure, the commissioners court may contract for professional services and incur other necessary expenses in an amount not to exceed the maximum amount fixed for this purpose. If a majority of the ballots cast are opposed to the expenditure, the commissioners court may not spend funds for this purpose, and another election on the proposition may not be held for two years.