House Speaker Stutes said she plans to resume work on the state budget on Monday, in the hope that the peak in cases would have crested by then.
"2023 Alaska state budget"
Legislators are divided over what to call state payments to Alaskans and the message it would send
House majority members say describing the entire $2,550 payment as a dividend would set expectations that PFDs would be that size every year.
Alaska House committee proposes using part of rising oil money to fund schools a year ahead of time
The amount is roughly one-third of the additional $3.6 billion the Department of Revenue forecast the state will receive in its spring revenue update on Tuesday.
Dunleavy calls for big dividends as Alaska’s revenue forecast increases by billions
Gov. Mike Dunleavy urged the Legislature to send some of the money to Alaskans in the form of $3,700 in permanent fund dividends.
Alaska sees a swift drop in the value of its Russian investments and looks to sell
Revenue Commissioner Lucinda Mahoney said the value of state-held Russian investments has declined from $267 million at the end of 2021 to a current estimate of no more than $15 million.
Alaska House committee drafts budget with $2,500 total for PFD and energy relief check
The budget proposal unveiled on Friday by the House Finance Committee would spend over $4 billion in state funding to run state government. That’s $148 million more than Dunleavy proposed.
As oil prices and inflation rise, Dunleavy pushes for higher PFDs and bonds
Dunleavy wants the state to issue $325 million in bonds to pay for construction on ports, airports, fire halls and other projects.
There’s more money coming in, but some Alaska legislators urge caution on PFD size
Nonpartisan budget analysts say that without the federal relief, Dunleavy’s proposed budget would have a $350 million deficit.
Alaska legislative leaders see on-time budget as a priority this year
Some of the leaders want to see the Legislature pass a long-term plan for the state’s finances and permanent fund dividends. But they acknowledge there are significant obstacles in both the short and long term.