(1) Make provisions directly or by contract with a single county for the implementation and operation, in accordance with the regulations promulgated by the Department of Public Welfare, of regional detention facilities serving the needs of two or more counties.

(2) Arrive at mutually agreeable arrangements with counties participating in the use of such regional detention facilities for the equitable sharing in the costs of constructing and operating such regional detention facilities, including necessary expenditures to transport children and, if financially indigent, their parents, guardians, or custodians to and from such regional detention facilities with funds contributed by the State and by such counties. The department shall only operate a regional detention facility, established under section 27(a),¹ upon refusal of the counties participating in its use to operate the facility pursuant to department regulations.