In order to enable cities of the first class having a population by the official state census of more than sixty-five thousand (65,000) and less than one hundred thirty-five thousand (135,000) and any city of the first class having a population of not less than ten thousand (10,000) and not more than fifty-five thousand (55,000) and operating under the city manager form of government and any city of the first class operating under the mayor-council form of government to pay cash in lieu of issuing bonds for the cost of general improvements or the city’s share of the cost of special improvements, the governing bodies of said cities are hereby authorized to levy annually not to exceed three (3) mills on each dollar of assessed tangible valuation of such city for such purposes and such tax levy may be levied outside of the aggregate limit prescribed by article 19 of chapter 79 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated.