LIVERMORE FALLS —  Livermore Fall residents received approval from the Legislature late Tuesday to decide if they want to switch from Androscoggin County to Franklin County.

If Livermore Falls residents vote in favor of the switch, the measure will then need approval from Androscoggin County, and then Franklin County, residents.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. L. Gary Knight, R-Livermore Falls, said it passed in the State House of Representatives, 103-33, Tuesday night after a lengthy debate and passed in the Senate without a roll call vote. He said Gov. Paul LePage is expected to sign the bill.

Livermore Falls, which borders Franklin County, is about 15 miles closer to Farmington, the Franklin County seat, than it is to the Androscoggin County seat of Auburn.

Knight said this difference is costly to the entire town, but particularly to the police department, which would save time and money by making court appearances at the Franklin County Courthouse and sending inmates to the Franklin County jail.

He also said the town has stronger ties to its northern neighbor because of connections with jobs, ambulance and disaster-response teams, health care, social services and education, and cultural and economic development programs.

Livermore Falls town officials are currently measuring what the economic impact of the switch would be for the town, as well as for the two counties. Knight said that while Androscoggin County would lose revenue from the town, it also no longer would need to provide services to the town.

Kaitlin Schroeder — 861-9252
kschroeder@mainetoday.com