New proposal could split Permanent Fund draw between PFDs, state budget

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, speaks on the Senate floor in 2015. He has proposed a bill to draw money from the Permanent Fund. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)
The amount residents receive in Permanent Fund dividends would be the same as the amount available for the state budget, under a new proposal.
It’s one of two Permanent Fund plans lawmakers are considering, although more may be on the way.
Using Permanent Fund earnings for anything but dividends was long considered untouchable in Alask