The fees paid by Androscoggin County towns for 911 services will increase by nearly 50% starting July 1.

County commissioners voted 6-1 Wednesday to increase what are called public safety answering point fees by 48%.

The Androscoggin County Regional Communications Center in Auburn provides 911 services to all municipalities in the county except for Lewiston and Auburn, which have their own communications center.

Commissioners also increased by a lesser amount dispatch services for fire, emergency medical services and police.

The increases stem from rising capital costs and labor expenses, among other necessary expenditures, county Administrator Jeff Chute said.

The rates are based on a town’s population, using the 2020 Census. Commissioners set the 911 emergency call amount at $4.30 per resident, up from $2.90. The dispatch cost went from $3.07 to $4.20 per resident for fire/emergency medical service calls, and from $7.17 to $8.40 for police calls.

For instance, Durham, with 4,173 residents, pays $12,101.70 annually for 911 calls and $12,811.11 annually for dispatch, for a total of $24,912.81. That total will increase to $35,470.50 under the new rates.

Turner, with 5,817 residents, pays a total of $34,727.49 for 911 calls and for dispatch service. The cost will rise to $49,444, up 42%.

“It is a hefty increase,” said Turner Town Manager Kurt Schaub.

Overall, including dispatching for police, the cost to Livermore Falls will go from $40,208.40 to $51,714, a 29% increase for the town’s 3,060 residents.

Town Manager Carrie Castonguay said Livermore Falls had budgeted for a 9.5% increase.

“This is a little startling to see a 29% increase all at once,” she said.

The county handles 911 calls for Lisbon at a cost of $28,161, but does not dispatch for fire, emergency medical services or police. The town has its own communications system but the council is considering joining the center for dispatch services.

If Lisbon joins the Androscoggin County center, it would pay a total of $164,115.90 for 911 calls and dispatch services for fire, emergency medical services and police calls for the town’s population of 9,711.

Voting in favor of the increase were Commissioners Shukri Abdirahman, Roland Poirier and Brian Ames, all of Lewiston; Garrett Mason of Lisbon Falls, Chairperson Jane Pentheny of Poland and Vice Chairperson Andrew Lewis of Auburn.

Opposing the measure was Commissioner Sally Christner of Turner.