The Big Island County Council voted 9-0 yesterday to boost firefighters' pay by 5 percent in each of the next four years. The Hawai'i Fire Fighters Association won the raises in arbitration proceedings last month.

The raises and associated fringe benefits are expected to cost the Big Island county government $20.8 million over the four-year contract beginning next July 1.

The agreement is expected to cost Honolulu about $49.2 million.

Negotiations or arbitration proceedings are still under way for the Hawai'i Government Employees Association, the United Public Workers and the State of Hawai'i Organization of Police Officers.