Bright, shiny objects: What PFD is worth in ’82 dollars; mayor says lock doors

INFLATION BITES

At some point in the next three weeks, The Alaska Permanent Fund dividend will be distributed to all eligible Alaskans. The amount was announced by the governor in June when he vetoed the funding for well over half of the dividend, and set the amount by fiat at exactly $1,000. It was a first.

One thousand dollars happens to be the amount of the very first dividend in 1982. Still not a bad haul for doing nothing but being an Alaskan.

KTUU did an analysis showing if Gov. Bill Walker had not vetoed the funding for the dividend, every Alaskan would get approximately $2,100 this year.

But to the point: $1,000 today is just $482 in 1982.

To keep up with inflation since 1982, this year’s check would have needed to be $2,481.

FIRST CUP OF IRONY: MORE TAX CREDITS SIGNED INTO LAW

While Gov. Bill Walker has vetoed millions of dollars in tax credits to the smaller oil and gas companies that came up to Alaska because of those incentives, he signed into law Monday a new set of tax credits.

The bill he signed, with House Speaker Mike Chenault looking over his shoulder, is to help reopen the Nikiski fertilizer company Agrium, which shuttered itself in 2011.

“This one is different than the other ones we’re doing up north,” Walker explained. “This  is one the benefit to Agrium will be three, four, five million dollars with a maximum of five years, and the benefit on the revenue side is four, five times that.”

But will these tax credits be paid? What good is a tax credit if companies don’t know if they will really be honored?

MAYOR TO RESIDENTS: STAY IN BED, LOCK DOORS, SAY GOODNIGHT

Anchorage residents, who have already heard from Mayor Ethan Berkowitz’ administration that they should not walk alone at night and never be on the trails by themselves because it’s not safe, are now hearing that they should say goodnight to their parents and be sure to lock the doors.

Mayor Ethan was at the North Star Community Council yesterday when young girl told him her concerns about safety in the neighborhoods and how she feels unsafe.