Commissioner of Revenue Bryan Butcher will announce the amount of the 2012 Permanent Fund dividend on Sept. 18.

The smart money says about $900, and if smart is right, that will make it the first sub-grand dividend since 2005. But at any amount, our individual share of the state's resource wealth income always sweetens autumn, whether it covers a trip to the tropics or a creditor's claim.

Rough math here has the dividend at $915. Let's jump that up with a little wishful thinking and call it $1,001.

What do you reckon?

-- Frank Gerjevic