Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced today that the 2022 Permanent Fund Dividend will be $3,284, making it the largest in the program’s 41-year history. Eligible Alaskans who selected direct deposit on their application will receive their dividend beginning Tuesday, Sept. 20. All other applications and disbursement methods that have been determined by September 28, including applicants receiving a paper check, will be distributed starting the week of Oct. 6.
Dunleavy decided to release this year’s PFD early so Alaskans can receive economic relief from runaway inflation. The amount was announced at the Three Bears Alaska store in Palmer.
The 2022 PFD will inject $2.1 billion into the state’s economy, his office said. For small business owners, it means a welcome spike in economic activity for the remainder of the year.
“Infusions of cash into the local economy will always be a boon to small businesses. From families buying heating fuel for the winter, to completing back-to-school shopping for their kids, shopping early for the holidays, or making those large purchases they put off all summer, locally owned businesses statewide benefit when Alaskans have PFD money in their pockets,” said Jessica Viera, executive director, Wasilla Chamber of Commerce.
“The PFD at $3,284, a total of $13,000 for a family of four, can go a long way in offsetting the record-high costs of energy and food we’re experiencing, preparing for winter, paying off debt, saving for college, or any number of other purposes,” Dunleavy said. “Alaskans need to remember the amount wasn’t determined by the traditional PFD formula – or any other formula. It was a political decision made in the capitol building during the legislative session. My position on the statutory PFD formula has been consistent: the Legislature needs to either follow the law or change the law, and if the law is changed, it must be done with the consent of the people.”
Dunleavy ran on a full statutory dividend, and although he has not been able to get the Legislature to go along most years, this year’s nearly statutory dividend is due to the fact that 59 out of 60 legislators are up for election this fall. The dividend was originally broken by former Gov. Bill Walker, and has continued to be broken by Walker allies in the Legislature since 2017, as they have ignored the statute that set the formula and replaced it with a conflicting statute that allows them to take what they want to take from the dividend in order to pay for government.
Isn’t the PFD $2,634 instead, plus the energy relief check — and it’s supposed to be much higher, according to what the law states?
Hey. You’re not supposed to have a brain, peasant.
That’s why they keep cooking the books.
Jeff, The pfd amount is less than the statutory amount. In an effort to provide the full statutory amount Dunleavy suggested an additional amount for each pfd recipient called the energy relief check. It was rejected by a legislative committee of six democrats who were taking their revenge out on the failed vote ( due to a two republicans) that had bipartisan agreement to accept the legislative budget for the state. Reason the two republicans voted against the legislative budget; it contained Medicaid funding for abortion services ( which Dunleavy had previously indicated he would veto by using his line item veto authority)
I’m voting for Big Mike. How about retroactive statutory PFDs that slimeball Bill Walker stole from us …. repeatedly?
He’s been working that his entire 1st term.
The GOP turncoats in the legislature keep crying about lack of funding.
Democrats are desperate. House and . Senate should had doubled it, and all their shenanigans be forgotten.
And I’ll bet RCV gives us Walker again this November. So enjoy this PFD, it’s likely to be the last one.
And prepare to say hello to the income tax.
Are you threatening us James? Or just trying to get us to vote for the Tall Man? He’s already got our vote. Walker and his dark-money managers need to vacate… And stop stealing ours! I expect full restitution from China Bill without more gaslighting.
In other MRAK threads, I’ve had mild comments never appear. Does Akismet forward iffy comments for Suzanne to make final determination, or is she out of the loop? I suspect that Akismet censors comments that Suzanne never sees.
The big question is: Is Akismet WOKE, and secretly slanting comment sections? Just look at what we learned recently about Twitter.
Well, that’s a tank of gas.
A election year pfd, how generous Juneau is with our money!
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