Permanent Fund 101: The Basics

How The Fund Works

Permanent Fund 101: Videos
Credit: Alaska Humanities Forum

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When oil was discovered on Alaska’s North Slope in 1969 Alaska was a new, undeveloped state with a $112 million budget. That changed overnight with the oil boom and $900 million in oil lease sales and soon that was all spent. Alaskans became extremely concerned that more oil wealth would be wasted. The Permanent Fund was proposed to save wealth and build it for future generations. About a third of Alaskans were against a savings account and voted to spend the money on state development. In 1976, after a statewide discussion and public vote, the Permanent Fund was established as a dedicated Fund by a Constitutional Amendment that directed at least 25% of oil revenue into the Fund.

In 1982 the dividend program was started so that Alaskans will benefit equally from their resources owned collectively in the Commons. This PFD is also a strong protection for the Permanent Fund. The PFD gives a personal stake to Alaskans in how the Fund is managed and inspires Alaskans to take a personal interest in the Fund. It is connected to the Fund’s investment earnings reserve, so that people notice by the size of the PFD if the Fund is mismanaged and whether the Legislature is spending it without their permission. The PFD is a big reason why the Fund has grown to $56 billion and not spent down by government.

The Permanent Fund principal is protected and can’t be spent without a Constitutional Amendment that is difficult to pass. It’s invested by the Permanent Fund Corporation. By law, the earnings are used for dividends and can be used for government spending. The Legislature has invested extra money in the Fund yearly to make up for inflation, and that’s another reason for its growth.

The PFD is not guaranteed by our Alaska Constitution except in claiming our right to benefit from resources and approval on what the Legislature spends. So now, we are in a dangerous time where false ads, Legislators who don’t put the public interest first, and voters who lack of understanding are weakening Alaskans’ ability to defend our Fund and dividend. The Governor and Legislators are now proposing changes to the Fund and PFD that should only be allowed by informed consent by the voters. Alaskans must demand other options than restructuring the Fund and capping the PFD to pay for government and hidden business dividends. A Constitutional amendment guaranteeing the PFD is the only way to secure the Peoples’ share of resource wealth for all Alaskans.

Please get informed and join the fight to protect our Alaska shareholder rights
and create a budget plan that is best for all Alaskans including future generations.

The PFD benefits include:

• Citizens share resource wealth equally as AK Constitution mandates
• ­PFD’s connection to the Fund earnings and spending provides important protection for the Fund against mismanagement.
• The most effective way to boost the Alaska economy and create jobs as an economic engine powering grassroots spending.
• Raising 15-25,000 Alaskans above the poverty line by $1000 PFD
• Strengthening the middle class that is in danger in the US

Low income Alaskans especially rural Alaskan would be hardest hit by a PFD cut, a regressive tax.
A study in 2016 by the University of Alaska Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) says that cutting the PFD is the worst effect on the economy, especially income, compared to other budget options.
Short-Run Economic Impacts Of Alaska Fiscal Options,  http://www.iser.uaa.alaska.edu/Publications/presentations/2016_10_18-AlaskaPFDPoverty.pdf

Jay Hammond’s book on defending the Fund and making a budget plan:
Diapering the Devil on avoiding the resource curse is free online.
www.cgdev.org

The Permanent Fund Corporation has public meetings and maintains transparency in its management.
We need to keep them accountable.
www.apfc.org

Note: the Constitutional Budget Reserve has about $4 billion and is a part of the budget plan but not part of the Fund. A vote of the Legislature is needed to spend the CBR money and it has to get paid back.

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