Nesquehoning is joining other communities in signing a resolution supporting an increase in the 911 surcharge placed on cellphone bills.

Last week, borough council adopted a resolution that was requested by Carbon County to support the increase on the state level. The current $1.95 fee is distributed to counties to maintain the 911 center operations.

However, county commissioners across the state are saying the fee is not nearly enough to cover the annual rising costs to maintain the vital emergency system.

Council did not discuss the resolution before adopting it.

Other Carbon County communities that already adopted the resolution include Weatherly, Penn Forest Township, Mahoning Township and Kidder Township.

Carbon County has been vocal about the need for an increase in the monthly fee, urging state legislators to increase the 911 Public Safety Emergency Telephone Act to $2.20.

The act had been established in 2015 and has been a source of continued discussion over the last several years.

The current surcharge is set to sunset on Jan. 31, 2029.

“The need to address the 911 funding stream is immediate, and will reach crisis proportions if action is delayed beyond the Jan. 31, 2029 expiration of the surcharge authorization,” the resolution the county signed in May states.