PFD

State Sen. Bert Stedman, a Sitka Republican who co-chairs the Senate Finance Committee, details a list of 24 projects costing about $34 million that were added to the state budget during negotiations with House members Thursday. Behind Stedman in the audience section is nearly the entire 16-member House minority caucus, which voted in favor of the budget along with 10 members of the Republican-led House majority. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Unusual House coalition OKs budget to end special session on first day

10 members of Republican-led majority join minority after $34M in targeted capital projects added

 

Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, tells reporters why the bill for next year’s budget was held over Tuesday until the final day of the session on Wednesday. The Senate floor session is scheduled to start at 11 a.m., giving the Senate and House 13 hours to resolve their differences before the 121-day session deadline. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Senate stalls budget for suspenseful final day

Legislature will have 13 hours to solve differences over PFD, other issues to avoid special session

 

State House Speaker Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, and House Rules Committee Chair Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, talk to reporters in the speaker’s office Friday afternoon about the House’s priorities during the last 13 days of this year’s scheduled legislative session. Both legislators said a cap on spending is a priority of the Republican-led House majority as the budget for next year and the size of this year’s Permanent Fund dividend remain the biggest unresolved issues. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

House Speaker declares spending cap a priority

Budget-cutting measure has ties to Senate’s plan to reduce PFDs — but it’s not a trade-off, leaders say

 

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire State Sen. Mike Shower, R-Wasilla, speaks in opposition to a bill allocating 75% of spendable Permanent Fund earnings to state programs and 25% to dividends during Monday’s floor session.

Senate passes $1,300 PFD bill despite dissension

Four majority members vote no on “75-25” bill, making it vulnerable to veto or other politicking.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire State Sen. Mike Shower, R-Wasilla, speaks in opposition to a bill allocating 75% of spendable Permanent Fund earnings to state programs and 25% to dividends during Monday’s floor session.
Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, listens to a procedural discussion by senators during Friday’s floor session about a bill modifying how Permanent Fund dividends are calculated. The bill, which reduce PFDs significantly from those under previously calculations unless the state has an abundance of revenue, is scheduled for further debate and a vote on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

‘75-25’ PFD plan reaches Senate floor

Change would drastically shrink dividends, allocate most Permanent Fund earnings to state spending

Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, listens to a procedural discussion by senators during Friday’s floor session about a bill modifying how Permanent Fund dividends are calculated. The bill, which reduce PFDs significantly from those under previously calculations unless the state has an abundance of revenue, is scheduled for further debate and a vote on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Senate Finance Committee co-chair Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, right, listens to Sealaska Corp. Board Chair Joe Nelson testify about the committee’s proposed budget during a hearing April 20.

Revised Senate budget contains smaller education increase, $1,300 PFD

Finance Committee proposing one-time $680 per-pupil boost in attempt to avoid deficit

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Senate Finance Committee co-chair Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, right, listens to Sealaska Corp. Board Chair Joe Nelson testify about the committee’s proposed budget during a hearing April 20.
State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, listens to an overview of the state’s balance sheet under a proposed budget for next year introduced by the Senate Finance Committee during a hearing Wednesday. The budget contains a surplus of more than $1.4 billion, but that’s a misleading number since it doesn’t include Permanent Fund Dividends, an increase in education funding and other spending that are virtually certain to be added following public testimony during the next couple of days. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Senate budget draft includes huge surplus and no PFD

Initial draft also lacks education funding boost, but changes to come after public comment process

State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, listens to an overview of the state’s balance sheet under a proposed budget for next year introduced by the Senate Finance Committee during a hearing Wednesday. The budget contains a surplus of more than $1.4 billion, but that’s a misleading number since it doesn’t include Permanent Fund Dividends, an increase in education funding and other spending that are virtually certain to be added following public testimony during the next couple of days. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Office Max at the Nugget Mall in the Mendenhall Valley advertised Permanent Fund dividend sales in July 2020. Alaskans have until the end of the month to apply for the PFD. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

PFD application deadline is next week

Amount in flux as state revenue forecasts lower than expected.

Office Max at the Nugget Mall in the Mendenhall Valley advertised Permanent Fund dividend sales in July 2020. Alaskans have until the end of the month to apply for the PFD. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
State Rep. Cliff Groh, D-Anchorage, testifies about his proposed constitutional amendment that would change how Permanent Fund earnings are allocated during a House Ways and Means Committee meeting Saturday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. The committee spent two hours taking testimony almost entirely by phone from residents statewide about five proposals related to the Permanent Fund and dividends, which continued the long historical pattern of strongly divided feelings about how much money to use for dividends vs. state government programs. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

PFD proposals polarize and puzzle

Residents all over Alaska’s map are also all over the policy map during hearing on various proposals

State Rep. Cliff Groh, D-Anchorage, testifies about his proposed constitutional amendment that would change how Permanent Fund earnings are allocated during a House Ways and Means Committee meeting Saturday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. The committee spent two hours taking testimony almost entirely by phone from residents statewide about five proposals related to the Permanent Fund and dividends, which continued the long historical pattern of strongly divided feelings about how much money to use for dividends vs. state government programs. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This July 24, 2018, file photo shows a portion of the 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return form. (AP Photo / Mark Lennihan File)

Local tax pros share advice following IRS announcement

“You put the amendment in after you get your refund.”

This July 24, 2018, file photo shows a portion of the 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return form. (AP Photo / Mark Lennihan File)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Kelsey Martin asks about the status of her son’s Permanent Fund Dividend check after arriving first at Juneau’s PFD office in the State Office Building on Tuesday, the first day direct deposit payments of the $3,284 dividends are being credited. Eligible residents who did not receive direct deposits will be paid by checks that will be mailed starting Oct. 6.

$3,284 payments make their way to many residents

Others arrive at PFD office bright and early with questions.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Kelsey Martin asks about the status of her son’s Permanent Fund Dividend check after arriving first at Juneau’s PFD office in the State Office Building on Tuesday, the first day direct deposit payments of the $3,284 dividends are being credited. Eligible residents who did not receive direct deposits will be paid by checks that will be mailed starting Oct. 6.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy stands at a lectern in a Three Bears Alaska store in Palmer, next to a giant, covered check displaying this year’s Permanent Fund dividend amount. Behind him stand Alaska resident Miranda Wagoner (left) and Jessica Viera, executive director, Wasilla Chamber of Commerce (right) who gave speeches at the event. (Faceboook live screenshot)

A $3,284 PFD is coming later this month

Total includes an energy relief payment, too.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy stands at a lectern in a Three Bears Alaska store in Palmer, next to a giant, covered check displaying this year’s Permanent Fund dividend amount. Behind him stand Alaska resident Miranda Wagoner (left) and Jessica Viera, executive director, Wasilla Chamber of Commerce (right) who gave speeches at the event. (Faceboook live screenshot)
In this July 2020 photo, a sign on a Mendenhall Valley business advertises Permanent Fund dividend sales. Payments for this year's PFD will start July 20, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced Friday.

Dunleavy: PFD payments start Sept. 20

That’s weeks earlier than is typical.

In this July 2020 photo, a sign on a Mendenhall Valley business advertises Permanent Fund dividend sales. Payments for this year's PFD will start July 20, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced Friday.
Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, chair of the bicameral conference committee tasked with hammering out differences in the state's budget bill, signs the committee report as members finished their work on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire

Committee compromises on PFD in budget plan

Process moves forward as deadline looms.

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, chair of the bicameral conference committee tasked with hammering out differences in the state's budget bill, signs the committee report as members finished their work on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
Sens. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, left, and Robert Myers, R-North Pole, read through one of 41 amendments submitted to the state's omnibus budget bill being debate on the floor of the Alaska State Senate on Monday, May 9, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Senate goes big on PFD in budget debate

A statutory dividend. Maybe.

Sens. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, left, and Robert Myers, R-North Pole, read through one of 41 amendments submitted to the state's omnibus budget bill being debate on the floor of the Alaska State Senate on Monday, May 9, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Alaska state Senate President Peter Micciche, center, looks on as lawmakers gather in front of him on the Senate floor on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. A bill dealing with the annual dividend paid to residents was bumped from the Senate floor on Wednesday. Micciche said it did not have the votes to pass. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Alaska lawmakers struggle with dividend debate

Legislative leaders have said they see resolving the divisive debate as critical.

Alaska state Senate President Peter Micciche, center, looks on as lawmakers gather in front of him on the Senate floor on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. A bill dealing with the annual dividend paid to residents was bumped from the Senate floor on Wednesday. Micciche said it did not have the votes to pass. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Lawmakers held a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, to vote to confirm Gov. Mike Dunleavy's appointments to state boards and commissions. All nominees were confirmed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers confirm Dunleavy appointees, work on PFD

Senate attempts to rework dividend formula.

Lawmakers held a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, to vote to confirm Gov. Mike Dunleavy's appointments to state boards and commissions. All nominees were confirmed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a new conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 27, 2022, to call on lawmakers to pass a "substantial" Permanent Fund Dividend. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

As end of session nears, Gov ‘optimistic’ for large PFD

“At least” $3,700.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a new conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 27, 2022, to call on lawmakers to pass a "substantial" Permanent Fund Dividend. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska House of Representatives passed the state's operating and mental health budget bills on Saturday, April 9, 2022, after a week of marathon floor sessions tackling amendments. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

House passes operating, mental health budgets, fails to pass effective date, reverse sweep

On to the Senate.

The Alaska House of Representatives passed the state's operating and mental health budget bills on Saturday, April 9, 2022, after a week of marathon floor sessions tackling amendments. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The deadline for the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, which comes from the fund managed by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, is coming up fast, landing on March 31, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Deadline approaching to apply for PFD

This year’s payout is still being decided.

The deadline for the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, which comes from the fund managed by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, is coming up fast, landing on March 31, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)