ISLE OF WIGHT—The Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to grant employees a five percent pay-raise effective Jan. 1.

The county declined to give raises in May when supervisors raised property 25 percent. The board said it would give the raises after reviewing county revenues in December, but decided to make the raises official during its meeting Thursday night.

The raises will cost the county $241,000 during 2011-2012 and $482,000 annually in following fiscal years.

July 1, 2008, was the last time employees received raises.

“We’ve had a long dry spell, and in these times, we’re asking a lot of our employees,” said Stan Clarke, Newport District supervisor. “In the spirit that they will be asked a lot and they’ve been doing a lot, I think it’s the right thing to do.”