YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma County Board of Supervisors has approved a wage increase impacting 1,000 employees.

“This is a great opportunity to define Yuma County as an employer of choice in our community,” said Chief Human Resources Officer Jessica Rodriguez.

The chief human resources officer was able to explain which employees would see a pay increase.

“We primarily use time and position, so we calculate how long an employee has been in their current position and use that to determine how big of a position they should be placed within their salary range. “We were able to do that,” Rodriguez said.

The growth rate is between 2% and 6%.

The cost to the county would be just over $5 million a year.

Board members explained why the decision was unanimous.

“We feel that our employees are the most important element to us. We are a service organization, so we keep our employees happy and at a level where they can go to work or do something. We don’t have to look for another location.’” Yuma County Board of Supervisors member Tony Reyes said.

The county also offered words of encouragement and gratitude to its employees.

“The board and county administration care very much about the people who work for the county and want to ensure that everyone is paid equally and appropriately for the position they are working in,” Rodriguez said. said.

The wage increase took effect this week.