AUGUSTA -The sponsor of a bill aimed at clarifying the authority of Maine counties to fund regional dispatch centers through county taxes said Tuesday that in light of a decision by the state’s high court, he would ask that the bill be killed.

State Rep. Richard Blanchard, D-Old Town and sponsor of LD 474, said he would recommend at today’s public hearing before the State and Local Government Committee that the bill be sent to the Legislature with an “ought not to pass” recommendation.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court unanimously ruled Tuesday that county taxes could be used to pay for regional 911 dispatch centers, making the legislation unnecessary.

The lawsuit was filed last year in Penobscot County Superior Court by the City of Bangor against Penobscot County.

Bangor and Lincoln are the only two municipalities in the county, which have their own dispatch centers and chose not to participate in the regional 911 system.

Because the hearing had been advertised, it had to be held, Blanchard said.

Bangor officials, who previously opposed the bill, said Tuesday that they would not attend the hearing after learning of the justices’ decision.