The San Juan County Council signed a four-year contract agreement with the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Union, local 49.

The agreement gives a 1.25 percent cost of living increase retroactive to January 2009, another 1.25 percent increase effective July 1 and sets cost of living increases at 3 percent for the remaining years of the contract.

The county will pay 80 percent of employee health insurance premiums for full time employees and 70 percent for half and three-quarter time employees.

Starting next year, group rate dental insurance coverage will be offered to employee dependents at the employee’s expense.

Additional contract changes involve grievances, rules governing employees temporarily assigned work at a higher pay grade and changing medical leave provisions to abide with state and federal regulations.

The contract will be forwarded to the union to be signed before the close of business on Monday, June 15.

Local 49 represents 160 full and part-time county employees about two-thirds of the county’s workforce.