Missouri City City Council gave preliminary approval to a pay increase for all city employees during its May 3 meeting. City employees, including fire and police personnel, will receive a 3.5% salary adjustment to accommodate for the rising cost of living, according to the proposed ordinance. The annual cost for this 3.5% increase is estimated at $895,000 with a prorated cost of $465,000 for fiscal year 2020-21, city documents show. “This is long overdue,” Council Member Jeffrey Boney said. “Our staff should have been paid an increase months ago. We are here now, and I believe this is the right thing to do for our employees.”