Ouray County commissioners voted on Feb. 8 to pursue a pay raise for elected officials that would increase salaries for commissioners, clerks, treasurers and assessors by almost 18% and sheriffs by around 14%, effective after the next election cycle for each official.

In reaching their decision, commissioners cited a high cost of living in Ouray County, job complexity that is disproportionate to the county population due to high numbers of tourists, and difficulty recruiting and maintaining quali...