PARIS - A casino and resort proposed for Oxford County would bring about 1,300 jobs and $39 million in wages over five years, county commissioners were told Tuesday.

The Yes on 2 campaign supporting the $184 million project released the figures from an economic impact study, which will be made public Wednesday at a Lewiston news conference.

Clyde Barrow, director of the Center for Policy Analysis at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, said the first phase of the project to build the proposed Oxford Highlands casino would cost about $112 million, while the second phase would cost $72 million.

Barrow said construction of the casino and resort by Olympia Gaming of Las Vegas would create about 1,300 jobs with a $39 million payroll over five years. He said the estimated revenue from the first year of the casino operations in 2010 would be $96 million and more than $164 million by 2014.

Pat LaMarche, spokeswoman for the Yes on 2 campaign to approve the casino in November's referendum, said the county would receive 1 percent of the casino's revenue, and estimated that it would be approximately $1 million per year to the county.

The budget approved for the county in 2008 included $2,069,351 in estimated revenue and expenditures of $6,223,120.

While the estimated average salary at the casino jobs remained at $35,000 per year with benefits, Barrow gave a higher figure for anticipated job creation than the 800 previously given by the campaign. He said 565 jobs would be created in the first year of the casino's operation and 907 by 2014.

Barrow said past studies have shown that the introduction of a casino dramatically reduces the unemployment rate, and that 15 to 30 percent of the initial hires take those people off unemployment or general assistance.

"Pretty much every phase of hiring will initially go to Oxford County people," LaMarche said.

LaMarche also denied that the project would lower the legal age of gambling from 21 to 19, saying that no one under the age of 21 would be allowed in the casino as an employee or visitor.

"It's really a moot point because of the liquor law," said Peter Martin, consultant to the campaign.

LaMarche said that while the referendum calls for a 10-year moratorium on casinos in Maine if the Oxford County casino passes, it could be modified to substitute distance limits between casinos in the state.

She said voters in the host community of the casino, which would receive an estimated $2.3 million to $3.5 million in revenues per year, will have to approve the measure for the casino to be sited there.

The proposed development would be on 25 acres and include a casino, hotel, spa, restaurant space and a conference center. The first phase would develop a casino with 1,200 slots and 20 gaming tables and a poker room, 125 hotel rooms and suites, three to four restaurants, a bar and lounge, and an indoor pool. The second phase would expand hotel and casino space, as well as meeting and conference space, and add an outdoor pool and expanded spa and fitness center.

Rumford and Oxford selectmen have voted to support having the casino sited in their towns, and the campaign has expressed interest in another unidentified town. The proposed host community will be named by the end of this week.

Dennis Bailey, executive director of Casinos No!, also attended the meeting.

"I would just caution you to take what you've heard with a grain of salt," Bailey said.

Opponents to the casino question the quality of the jobs it will create, and contend that revenues will be taken out of state and social problems will increase. Casinos No! argues on its Web site that voters will be "endors(ing) a blank check" by passing a bill whose provisions could be changed.

Scott Parker, director of the county's Emergency Management Agency, asked if the casino project would take into consideration the necessity to expand emergency services and associated costs. Commissioner Steve Merrill said the issue will be addressed when the proposed casino site is known.