Public employee salaries focus of report

There are 50 public employees in Pennsylvania earning more than $150,000, according to a new report released by the Sunshine Review, a nonprofit that focuses on government transparency.

The nonprofit said it collected public salary information for Pennsylvania and seven other states -- California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Texas and Wisconsin -- by using information that was already available online or by filing Freedom of Information Act requests.

Pennsylvania had the quickest response rate to the information requests, the Sunshine Review said. The state ranked sixth with 50 public employees earning more than $150,000. California was number one, with 1,332 employees earning more than $150,000.

Through last year, seven of the nine highest-paid public officials in Pennsylvania worked in Philadelphia. Here's the lineup:

1. Arlene Ackerman, former School District superintendent: $348,140

2. Sam Gulino, Philadelphia Medical Examiner: $239,200

3. Mayor Nutter: $198,658

4. Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey: $195,000*

5. Jerome Waske, Pittsburgh paramedic crew chief: $174,881

6. District Attorney Seth Williams: $163,602

7. Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers: $149,968

8. Anna Verna, former City Council president: $148,090

9. David Sanko, Bucks County chief operating officer:$140,688

*The list doesn't reflect the $60,000 raise that Mayor Nutter gave Ramsey to stay in Philadelphia when he was being linked to the top cop's job in Chicago. His salary is now $255,000.