§ 13-b. Publicity fund. Any city may establish a publicity fund of such amount as the city council or other governing body may by resolution direct, to be expended for the purpose of advertising the advantages of such city as a winter and summer resort, or for the commemoration programs of historical events, or otherwise, including the necessary and legitimate expense of securing the designation of such city as the place for holding the convention or meeting of any organization or society, and for such other and additional purposes as may tend to promote the general commercial and industrial welfare of the city, and for that purpose may raise by taxation a sum not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars per annum to be assessed, levied and collected in the same manner that other city taxes are assessed, levied and collected. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the city council of any city may by local law establish a publicity fund in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars per annum, as such local law shall direct. Such local law shall be subject to a referendum on petition. Such sum shall be raised by taxation and shall be assessed, levied and collected in the same manner that other city taxes are assessed, levied and collected. Provided, however, that if the city council of any city with a population of fifty thousand or less establishes, by local law, a publicity fund in excess of fifty thousand dollars, such local law shall become operative only after it shall be adopted after submission to the qualified voters of the city, and due adoption thereof by a majority of the qualified voters of the city voting thereon at a general election.