(TNS) — Pennsylvania’s top 10 highest state government earners (salary, plus other job-related income) in 2023 come from three different state agencies – Public School Employees’ Retirement System, State System of Higher Education and the Department of Human Services. Here’s a look at who they are:
10. Bashar Hanna: $439,630
Hanna is president of Commonwealth University with campuses in Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield.
Hanna was hired as president of Bloomsburg University in 2017. Bloomsburg merged with Lock Haven and Mansfield to form a new consolidated university in 2022 and he was named president of the trio of schools that enroll 11,100 students.
The breakdown of his earnings shows he received a $410,293 salary, a $6,600 auto allowance, a $27,000 housing allowance and $4,263 of pre-tax benefits such as healthcare and a flexible spending account.
9. Michael Driscoll: $459,336
Driscoll is president of Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
He has led this 9,200-student university since 2012 and is the longest-serving university president among the state’s public universities.
His earnings break down this way: $456,195 is salary, and he receives a $7,633 auto allowance. His pretax benefits reduce his earnings by $4,492.
8. Christopher Fiorentino: $459, 870
Florentino is president of West Chester University.
Fiorentino is retiring this summer after having been employed at West Chester for 41 years He served as president for eight years at this, the largest of the state-owned universities, with an enrollment of more than 17,100 students.
His earnings include a $456,748 salary and a $6,600 auto allowance. His pretax benefits lower his earnings by $3,478.
7. Benjamin Cotton: $461,173
Cotton is chief investment officer at the Public School Employees’ Retirement System.
He was hired last year as CIO to oversee 65 internal investment professionals and staff and multiple outside consultants and managers who invest the system’s $71 billion in assets.
His earnings consist of a $451,173 salary and a $10,000 one-time quality assurance payment.
6. Dr. Susan Lightbourn: $468,551
Lightbourn is a supervisory physician at Ebensburg State Center.
She has been employed by the Department of Human Services for 17 years at this 400-bed intermediate care facility in Cambria County that provides supports to people with Intellectual disabilities.
Her earnings include a $219,092 base salary in addition to overtime and retention pay through the department’s Quality Assurance Program.
State hospitals care for medically vulnerable patients and the department must staff these facilities around the clock for safe operations, in accordance with state and federal requirements.
5. Brian Carl: $478,625
Carl is chief financial officer at the Public School Employees’ Retirement System.
Carl, who retired last September, was employed at the pension system for 28 years, including 15 years as its CFO. In that position he oversaw 45 employees and handled budgeting, accounting, employer and member payroll collections and annuitant benefit payment operations for the plan, which has $71 billion in net assets.
His earnings: $237,660 in salary; $57,967 in unused annual leave payout; and $188,940 in unused sick leave payout.
4. Dr. Miguel Salomon: $479,691
Salomon is a staff physician at Danville State Hospital.
He has worked for the Department of Human Services for eight years.
His earnings: $189,399 base salary in addition to overtime and retention pay through the department’s Quality Assurance Program.
3. Dan Greenstein: $483,794
Greenstein is chancellor of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.
He is in his sixth year as the CEO of the 10-school public university system that enrolls more than 82,600 students. The system has undergone a dramatic transformation under his watch that included university consolidations, keeping down tuition and moving the system to operate in a more financially sustainable manner.
His earnings include a $433,426 salary, a $6,600 auto allowance, and a $50,400 housing allowance. His earnings are reduced by $6,632 in pre-tax benefits.
2. Dr. Mohammed Aslam: $485,686
Aslam is staff physician at Wernersville State Hospital.
He has worked for the commonwealth for 23 years. His job entails monitoring care of patients with intellectual disabilities, supervising staff and ensuring safe and appropriate clinical operations at the hospital. Wernersville provides in-patient treatment to up to 266 patients with serious and persistent mental illness in a supervised and supportive environment.
His earnings include a $189,399 base salary, supplemented by overtime and retention pay through the department’s Quality Assurance Program.
1. Dr. Michael Brogna: $584,000
Brogna is supervisory physician at Danville State Hospital.
Brogna has been employed by the Department of Human Services for 33 years. His job entails monitoring the care of patients with intellectual disabilities, supervising staff and ensuring safe and appropriate clinical operations.
His earnings include a $210,172 base salary, supplemented with overtime and retention pay through the department’s Quality Assurance Program.