If the organization of the proposed reservoir improvement district is defeated at the election or if the petition is disapproved by the director of the Kansas water office, the steering committee named in the petition shall determine the amount of money necessary to pay all of the costs and expenses incurred in the preparation and filing of the petition, and in the conduct of the election and the steering committee shall assume the obligation for the payment of such costs and expenses by assessing the eligible water right holders a fee in proportion to each such holder’s water right to the total of such water right. No cost shall be assessed by any state agency.