Most Park County employees will get a sizable boost in their paychecks starting July 1 after commissioners approved Tuesday a cost of living increase and raises that would give employees a 6.2% boost on average in pay.

Commissioners also agreed to raise wages of part time and temporary positions to make them more enticing. County Clerk Colleen Renner said they have struggled getting new, entry-level employees at the previous starting salaries of $12 and $13 an hour that most fast food places in town are far above. Now, most provisional and temporary employees will start at at least $14 per hour, with multiple roles starting at $15 and $16 for first year hires.

“We have trouble getting entry level positions,” Commissioner Lloyd Thiel said.

All regular employees will receive a 75 cent cost of living raise and department heads will have three step increases per employee to hand out, although they have the freedom to say, give on employee five step increases and another one, meaning some employees may get an even higher raise while others less than the 6.2% average. The wages boost will cost the county roughly $750,000.

“Elected officials can disperse as they see fit,” Thiel said.

Renner said department heads can also hold off on the step raises until later, say for more recent hires.

After a number of years of not giving out raises due to a sluggish tax base, two years ago the county increased wages by an average of 4.5% and last year 6.9% on average.