Congratulations Orlando! I just retired from a good Municipal job and am looking at jobs in a Dept. in a smaller town myself. As you say, they pay less than half what I make now, even as Chief, but then I won't be paying $7000 a year in property taxes for starters. A gallon of milk or loaf of bread is about the same everywhere, but taxes and property are so much better elsewhere. Not to mention quality of life and general mentality. Our home town had no traffic lights (pop. 120). As soon as the kids are out of school I'm out of here too!