Stop writing confusing ballot questions

I have just reviewed the 2016 ballot for Horry County residents. Did we (or will we) all notice the final authorization phrase of the ballot,　which asks the question:

“(Must the) County also be authorized to issue and sell, either as a single issue or as several separate issues, general obligation bonds (the “Bonds”) in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $532,000,000, to be paid from the sales and use tax received and pledged to the payment of the principal of and interest on the Bonds, and an ad valorem tax if the sales tax is inadequate for the payment of the bonds?"　 (underlining and italics are mine for emphasis).”

Must we slog through the careful legalese in this item, which is intended to establish proper legal authorization for borrowing the necessary money for the improvement of our public infrastructure - only to be confronted, in the end, by a phrase without a verb, which seems to intend　to authorize imposition of an Horry County VAT?

Shouldn't the final phrase read: “...and to impose an ad valorem tax if the sales tax is inadequate for the redemption of the bonds?”

Did an English-speaking lawyer review this language before the ballot was printed?

This story was originally published November 3, 2016 at 7:27 PM with the headline "Stop writing confusing ballot questions."