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$1,100

That is the size of the Permanent Fund Dividend the Alaska House Coalition unanimously approved this year: twice.
-The first time, the House failed to gain the necessary 2/3 vote required to fund the dividend, reducing it by half. Rather than work with the Legislature to ensure full funding of the dividend, the governor then vetoed the dividend completely.
-During the most recent special session, Coalition members voted unanimously to restore the $1,100 dividend, which the governor finally accepted.

Why can’t we afford a larger PFD?

Nothing is free, and the account that pays dividends also provides most of the funding for everything from troopers, paving and plowing roads, and for schools.
The Legislature must pass a budget that is balanced. Passing a larger dividend today would force us to spend more than is allowed by law from the Permanent Fund. The Permanent Fund now provides two-thirds of Alaska’s unrestricted revenue and must be protected for future generations.

Tough decisions today.

A truly comprehensive solution that closes the deficit and makes all the tough choices at once is the only scenario where a one-time overdraw to pay a large dividend could make sense. Sadly, the governor refuses to advance key elements of a comprehensive fiscal plan—including revenue that will pay for the services Alaskans rely on.
We stand ready to make the tough decisions and close the state’s structural budget deficit. We have put plans on the table that would end the cycle of uncertainty around funding for essential services and how much the dividend will be year-to-year.

So what now?

Alaskans can rest assured that we are working hard to make sure a dividend gets out the door on time this fall. You should urge all of your elected officials to step up and do the same.

Sources

https://apnews.com/article/ak-state-wire-alaska-business-government-and-politics-8bda862a6195018bd7801fe6463d9474
https://apnews.com/article/alaska-73a1a1bda31788f6503ccff18e37641e
http://akleg.gov/docs/pdf/2021_Fiscal_Policy_Working_Group-Final_Report