Top state retirees earn $200k+ pensions

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - While New York is mired in a multi-billion dollar deficit, hundreds of state retirees are pulling in six-figure pensions.

The Empire Center for New York State Police is the organization that recently compiled the pensions paid to 340,000 state workers.

News 4 check out the top three earners, one of whom is from this area.

>> See a complete list of the Top 100 pensions earned in New York State.

At number one, George Phillip is pulling down $261,000 a year. He retired as the head of the New York State Teacher Retirement System, only to be hired as the President of the State University in Albany, at a salary of $280,000.

Number two, Cheryl Schatmeyer, who used to work with Weschester Health Care Group, she gets $205,000 each year from her pension plan.

At number three, Dr. Youcef Rustum, from Roswell Park Cancer Institute. He retired in 2008, only to be rehired as the Chairman of the Department of Cancer Biology. According to the Empire Center, he made $208,000 last year, on top of his pension.

"We're trying to create a conversation so that people know where there money is going. It's up to the citizens to go to their lawmaker and say what they think the solution is. We have some idea, but let's get a debate going about whether we can afford to do this in the future," said Lise Bang-Jensen of Empire Center for New York State Policy.

News 4 tried reaching Dr. Rustum Thursday morning.

He was unavailable for comment.

Now, about 1,400 retirees have yearly pensions totaling at least $100,000.

Two thirds of them are retired police and firefighters.

>> Click here for the pension website.