ALBANY — A conservative think tank ripped Gov. Cuomo for saying public pensions could be sweetened if the economy improves.

He told reporters this week, “Reduce [benefits] to the level you can afford today . . . three years from now, let’s say the economy turns around and people say we want to have a better pension plan to attract different workers, then raise it, fine.”

Empire Center for New York State Policy Director E.J. McMahon said yesterday that Cuomo’s remark “completely undermines his position.”