City- and state-funded cultural institutions are cutting programs and slashing staff – even “firing” the Bronx Zoo’s porcupine – and yet their CEO pay packages would make Wall Streeters blush.
The American Museum of Natural History, citing a budget crunch, laid off 50 workers last week, but its president, Ellen Futter, gets more than $1 million in compensation. And her perks include an Upper East Side apartment and a full-time maid, The Post has learned.
Futter made an annual $700,000 in salary and $448,601 in benefits, according to the latest public records. And The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s recent survey of 291 nonprofits lists her as the nation’s third highest-paid art museum director.
Meanwhile, the museum – which received $16.7 million in city support this year – is closing some exhibits on a rotating basis, dropping its monthly jazz event, and halting a college science program.
“She can well afford to hire her own handymen and pay for her own maid,” fumed a laid-off worker.
Lincoln Center President Reynold Levy made $1.26 million, including a one-time $270,211 pension payment, while the center – despite $1.8 million from the city – froze hiring and cut its $106 million budget by 7 percent, a spokeswoman said.
The Wildlife Conservation Society, which runs the Bronx Zoo, the New York Aquarium and other attractions, is protesting a 55 percent cut in state funds with a video featuring a porcupine getting a pink slip. It plans to cut 120 positions. Yet CEO Steven Sanderson makes $901,000 in salary and benefits.
The Museum of Natural History trimmed its budget by 10 percent following 20 buyouts and other job cuts by attrition since July, said a spokesman. It and most other city cultural meccas – which got $115 million in city funds – declined to confirm CEO compensation beyond what’s listed in 2007 tax forms, the latest publicly available.
The New York Botanical Garden – which got $7.7 million in city funds – cut 49 jobs, about 10 percent of its workforce. CEO Gregory Long got $429,530 in salary and benefits, but his and other senior exec pay was “frozen indefinitely” in August, said spokesman Karl Lauby.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art – which gets at least $26.9 million from the city – paid recently retired CEO Philippe de Montebello $766,212. He also got a $4 million bonus in 2006. The Met declined to say what it pays his successor, Thomas Campbell.
The city’s Department of Cultural Affairs cut 2.5 percent from this year’s subsidy to 33 institutions on city property and expects to slash 11.7 percent in fiscal 2009-10 – and says the funds go mostly toward utilities, security and maintenance, not executive pay.