Merit system came in under Vaughn - Aubrey took a LOT of credit for things Vaughn did, like getting deputies trained etc. Pay is a function of what the city lets them spend, the budget has to be approved by the Mayor, they started getting better pay under Aubrey mainly because KLEPF pay kicked in in 1999 - look at base pay minus KELPF. And remember, he pays the retirees from other places WAYYYY more than he pays the new guys, or even the guys who had been with the SO for years. Actually, DUI is