Letters to the Editor

Letter: Shame on legislators

I would be ashamed to be elected these days. This is an utter sham. Our representatives are presiding over the destruction of the reputation of the Legislature and the law. Even the few who are attempting to do the right thing must have difficulty holding their heads up high knowing they are part of a body that is failing so poorly to represent its people.

According to Alaska statute, the lawful calculation of the dividend is based on a five-year average of the Permanent Fund’s performance. Alaska statute mandates that the dividend is calculated through this method:

1. Add fund statutory net income from the current plus the previous four fiscal years.

2. Multiply by 21%

3. Divide by two

4. Subtract prior year obligations, expenses, and PFD program operations

5. Divide by the number of eligible applicants

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If that formula were followed, this year’s dividend would be more than $3,000. But since the Gov. Bill Walker era, Alaska statute has been ignored, and now it’s the “leftover dividend.”

The $525 dividend that is in the 2022 budget for eligible Alaskans is only worth $195 in 1983 dollars, also because of the effect of inflation.Legislators have failed to do their duty and have repeatedly shown they think they are above following the statute. If they think the formula is wrong, they should vote to change it rather than being hypocrites and cowards. Why should any Alaskan follow the law when they refuse to?

It is obvious they have no regard for the average Alaskan and want to continue cutting the PFD, which amounts to the most regressive tax possible. Alaskans are united; they believe this is wrong, yet lawmakers are unwilling to have the courage to find a solution. They have shown there is a need to vote more of them out of office.

Alaskans have consistently supported cutting and capping the size of government. Legislators are failing to do that and are effectively taxing the people during an economically devastating year for many people. Have they no shame?

— Josh J. Church

Fairbanks

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