(a) The county board of commissioners shall call a special election in the county, city, or designated area of the city to determine whether a red imported fire ant abatement district shall be established for the area upon the filing of petitions with the county court of any county containing the signatures of ten percent (10%) or more of the qualified electors of all or any defined part of any county, or all or any defined part of any city, as determined by the total number of votes cast for Governor at the last general election by the qualified electors of the county, city, or designated portion thereof, requesting the establishment of a red imported fire ant abatement district in the county or a designated portion of the county or in the city or designated portion of the city and requesting that assessed benefits be made on the property located in the district to finance the operation of the district.

(b) Petitions filed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall specifically define the area proposed to be included in the red imported fire ant abatement district and shall specify the maximum assessed benefits which may be levied against property within the district for the support of the district. In no event shall the assessed benefits in any district exceed an amount equal to one percent (1%) of the assessed valuation of real property in the district.

(c) The quorum court of the county may on its own motion enact an ordinance directing the county court to call a special election in the county, city, or designated area of the city to determine whether a red imported fire ant abatement district shall be established for the area.