The amount of this year’s Permanent Fund dividend has been set by the Alaska Legislature at $1,000. The governor is not allowed to add back the funds taken by legislators and used for state services, so even if he vetoes part of the budget, he cannot restore the dividend to its statutory amount, which was the $3,900 he put in his proposed budget last fall.
Since Gov. Bill Walker vetoed half of Alaskans’ dividends in 2016, the Legislature has set subsequent dividends by negotiations, not a fixed formula as directed by statute, making them subject to the political whims of election years.
During election years for the past five years, the dividend has tracked higher. In 2024, there was a moderate increase with the “energy relief” portion of the dividend, which occurred during the election year.
2022’s high PFD aligns with the election and high oil prices, suggesting political motivation to boost dividends. 2024’s moderate increase also occurred during an election year.
If the trend continues, Alaskans might expect that the Permanent Fund dividend in 2026 will trend higher, as it will be another election year.
The PFD payments are typically disbursed in early October for online applicants with direct deposit, just three weeks before the general election, which makes it especially tempting for legislators to be more generous to constituents, as in vote buying.
The PFD is an excellent source of income to cover the costs of public sector union pay, benefits, and pensions. And since most of Juneau’s population is public sector union employees, the votes are counted in Juneau. Well, it just makes good sense.
They are playing with the peoples pfd… I am so sick of the corruption and manipulation!!
Tar and Feathers anyone??
Armed revolution against our slave masters?
These people are crooked, corrupt, criminal thieves and grifters.
“……..Armed revolution against our slave masters?……..”
Go get ’em, Tiger.
Public stockades seem more fitting for humiliation.
Tyler,
First of all, these bunch of thieves (representatives???) in Juneau outright stole our constitutionally guaranteed PFD amount when, then Governor Walker met under street lights with a corrupt judge and coalition of thieves in the Senate and the House to literally steal Alaskan’s PFD’s so they could have even more money for their asinine ideas. Further, every year the Governor puts in for the full pfd amount and just like clockwork the senate cuts that amount by over 60 %, and then later cuts that to below 40% (this year it went like this $3,200 full pfd, $1,400 Senate first hack, then another hack to end up with have their pittance amount of $1000. Big Deal!!!!!!
Then, to add insult to injury, they make it very clear they will not allow Alaskans to vote to give themselves their full constitutionally guaranteed dividend. let me repeat that, they will not allow you to vote to give yourself your full dividend. Why? Because they know you will vote to give yourselves what you have been entitled since 1980. Their typical government slimes that can’t take enough money away from the citizenry to bolster their power and give themselves sole control over almost every aspect of your life. Tarring and feathering them is far too kind, compared to what I would do to them.
Done, for now.
Alaskans need to have a say in this.
Alaskans deserve to know if State Government is larger than it needs to be.
According to the urban website, Alaska in 2021 spent $18,719 per capita in state and local tax dollars on government functions. For a state with less than a million people that’s a huge junk of change AND indicates that government IS larger than we need or can afford!
The biggest chunk goes to medicaid/health care and then education. Those budget items are in the billions.
For comparison in 2021 only the District of Columbia spent more with $25,061 with Wyoming in third $17,175 and New York was at $15,899. The lower end of the spectrum you have Georgia with $7,971. Let that sink in!
Any government is larger than it needs to be.
Lawbreakers and thieves.
There should be a ballot initiate for the state to relinquish mineral and oil subsurface rights that benefit the residents from the PFD which is why it is statutory.
HEY All you idiots that vote Demorat THANKS Now knock it off!!
Of course!!!
The theft facilitated by the courts and the legislators of the Alaskan citizens.
You’re just now catching on? How are those false promises for a “full, statutory dividend” playing out for you?
People who keep voting for these clowns are the true useful idiots.
Billions to manage a state with less than a million people and the government fails, the entire subsurface wealth of state land and that’s not enough!?
Why would any sane polity expect a government to administer education or care for the elderly? That should not be the governments job that should be the family’s job. Welfare, and education are the largest expenditures.
What you get with democrats loss of your money given to someone else that has done nothing.
Stedman finish his driveway yet?
It is the public’s duty to know these peoples backgrounds and who is financially backing their campaigns. Then one can make a clear decision voting. Not just pull the lever for the candidate the media promotes.
I hope Dunleavy has enough spine to veto the whole thing. So far there’s no evidence he really cares about the “statutory” obligation to allow the whole legal dividend.
Big problem with a veto of the whole thing, is then we, the taxpayers, get to pay ‘overtime’ to the do-nothings-but-examine-their-navel-for-lint so they can come up with enough money to take extended trips on our dime,
Let’s make a law that they get NOTHING if they don’t finish their work. <<< wishful thinking
Bill, I guess you did not remember that we have co-equal branches of government. To my knowledge the governor requested a full statutory PFD in every budget he submitted. The legislature, who controls the purse strings then whittled it down in order to have enough funds for their pet projects (pensions, education). The governor can not add any funds not appropriated by the legislature, so your complaint does not hold water. If you want to be mad at the governor pick a better reason!
The Alaska State Legislature, including a bunch of Republicans, is owned by the Alaska NEA!
Buying votes with our money.
How typical of liberals
For hell’s sake, let’s end the dividend and the constant division and wasted time it creates. PF is state money. So is the PFD.
Since the legislators took $1000.00 of our PFD. They should lose the equalizer in their per diem
Let talk about their per diem. How is it they are collecting a federal per diem daily rate when workers on state projects only are awarded $100 per day?
Alaska needs to eliminate EVERY liberal in Alaska!! Any state that continues to lose money is 9 times out of 10 run by liberals!!
Except this is very much not true
Red states take a large share of federal dollars everywhere
Alaska is a red, well orange, state and loses money because the so called republicans (and some democrats) have sold out our state in letting its most valuable resource go for less than they should and that has hamstrung our state finances
Except this is very much not true
Red states take a large share of federal dollars everywhere
Alaska is a red, well orange, state and loses money because the so called republicans (and some democrats) have sold out our state and hamstrung our fiscal stability
PFD Blues (from 2021!)
The Alaska State dolts want our PFD
And leave us a paltry sum, you see
Yet they’ll take their per diem
While the public gets the ream
It’s all rinse and repeat to me
Seems to happen every time
The dolts will squeeze every dime
Hope the gov cancels with his pen
And make them do it again
‘Cause they think it’s not yours, it’s mine
We voted them in
Above the electoral din
Said they’ll take good care
But we were unaware
Of their incompetent lying sin
They know the divy belongs to us
Yet at budget time they make a fuss
The dolts try and keep it all
Once again we take the fall
And they wonder why we have no trust
Again they’ll bring up the vote
Will they be hero or goat
Give us our fair share
Because we’re in despair
Or will they do it again and just gloat
I think I know what to do
It just might please all of us too
Give us one final payment
And be done with betrayment
Then find someone else you can screw
Are we surprised?
It’s always a promise of larger dividends (even tho the only real way to make those happen is to improve the income that drives em) or a sudden flush of cash to get a vote
Alaskans have to stop falling for this if they actually want to see the state flourish and not lose the dividend while gaining more taxes
How about a Ballot Initiative to place the portion of the Permanent Fund used to calculate the dividend (original method) into a onetime payment for the real Alaska Residents and put an end to the treasure chest that these Pirates are looting. It’s not real unusual to see overspending and corruption when there’s a big pot of gold to pillage