The region's highest-paid executives took it on the chin last year, as the average total compensation among The Post-Gazette's Fortunate 50 fell 16 percent. Salaries and bonuses were down. So were grants of restricted stock and gains from exercising stock options.

Lucky for them, there was also "other," the only category where compensation increased. "Other" includes long-term incentive payments, deferred compensation plans, retirement plan contributions, perquisites and other items.

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The Fortunate 50 received a whole lot of "other" last year, $90.4 million -- or an average of $1.8 million per executive, nearly three times more than they received in 2004.

Long-term incentives accounted for much of the $57.6 million increase over 2004 payments, including $19.8 million for Equitable Resources' Murry S. Gerber, $11.4 million for PNC Financial Services Group's James E. Rohr, and $6.2 million for PNC's Joseph C. Guyaux.

Like other documents companies file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, some of the most telling information in the proxy statements that spell out executive pay can be found in footnotes.

Typically "other" compensation is disclosed in one or two columns in the main compensation table, while the details are contained in footnotes or a separate table. By scouring that supplemental information, investors can get an idea of the mind-set of the directors as they ponder the age-old question of how much is enough.

Take the case of Ariba CEO Robert M. Calderoni ($10.4 million). Nine percent of Mr. Calderoni's take-home pay can be found in a footnote identifying tax reimbursements of $920,798. Here's why he got the money.

Seems a company controlled by Ariba co-founder and former chairman Keith Krach loaned Mr. Calderoni some money in 2001 and decided to forgive the loan in fiscal 2005. Mr. Calderoni was forgiven $1.1 million in principal and interest, none of which came out of Ariba's treasury. But he had to report the amount forgiven as income and, under agreements signed in 2001, Ariba provided the money for Mr. Calderoni to pay the income taxes.

While the reason for Mr. Calderoni's tax reimbursements is unusual, the perquisite is quite common.

Alcoa Chairman and CEO Alain Belda ($4.9 million) received $145,872 in tax reimbursements last year to cover his income tax liabilities on perks such as $51,790 for his and his wife's use of a corporate jet; $15,934 for tax services, $5,000 for financial counseling and $2,596 for club membership dues.

Consol Energy President and CEO J. Brett Harvey ($13.6 million) received $14,759 in tax reimbursements for a company-paid country club membership, financial planning and air travel.

At a time when more companies are terminating their pension plans and putting retirement savings decisions in the hands of their employees, it's quite common for top-paid executives to receive company-paid financial planning benefits.

H.J. Heinz Chairman, CEO and President William R. Johnson ($4.3 million) received $27,816 for financial counseling, while Ariba Executive Vice President Kevin S. Costello ($4.3 million) was reimbursed $14,689 for personal financial planning fees. One hopes his financial planner told Mr. Costello to stay away from Ariba stock, which has generated annual losses of 63 percent over the last five years.

The Fortunate 50 don't have the uneasy feeling about retirement as many among the rank and file. Dominion Resources Chairman and CEO Thomas E. Capps ($8.6 million) received $1.5 million in retirement-related payments while PNC contributed $151,050 to retirement plans for Mr. Rohr ($19.5 million).

Speaking of executive pensions, next year, the SEC may require companies to disclose the estimated annual pensions executives will receive when they retire. Companies such as PNC and Alcoa provided the information this year.

PNC estimates Mr. Rohr will qualify for a $3 million annual pension when he reaches 65: $1 million from the bank's standard pension plan and $2 million from a supplemental plan. Alcoa disclosed that as of year-end, Mr. Belda had earned a $1.4 million annual pension, based on his retiring at 65.

Travel perks, usually personal use of the corporate jet, is an increasingly popular "other" item.

Fortunate 50 high-fliers include Allegheny Technologies Chairman, President and CEO L. Patrick Hassey ($262,371 of his $10.1 million), FedEx Chairman, President and CEO Frederick W. Smith ($258,730 of his $8.7 million) and National City Chairman and CEO David A. Daberko ($181,495 of his $7.3 million).

Perquisites for four FedEx executives on the Fortunate 50 included season tickets for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association valued at nearly $140,000.

There are also perks closer to home. MTR Gaming Chairman, President and CEO Edson R. Arneault's use of a company-owned home accounted for $139,289 of his $5.4 million compensation.

As the SEC weighs a comprehensive proposal to require more and clearer disclosures on executive pay, some will make the argument that disclosure discourages bad practices. It's hard to jump to that conclusion after reviewing this year's proxies, but think of it like a die-hard Pittsburgh Pirates fan.

We'll get 'em next year.