Alaskans Cash In On Annual Dividend

State Residents To Get Record $3,269 In Oil Royalties And Payouts To Offset Fuel Prices

(AP)  It's the season for Alaskans to be rewarded just for living here and this year's take is extra sweet: $3,269, a record share of the state's oil wealth combined with a special cash payout to help with stratospheric energy prices.

Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell announced Friday that every eligible man, woman and child will receive $2,069, thanks to this year's annual payment from the state's oil royalty program. On top of that, the checks will include an additional $1,200 from the state treasury to help offset soaring fuel prices.

The one-time energy boost was proposed by Gov. Sarah Palin in May and approved by state lawmakers last month. Palin has since been tapped as the running mate of Republican presidential nominee John McCain. It fell to Parnell to make Friday's announcement on the dividend because Palin is out of state.

"The royalty dollars that flow through the state are the people's wealth," said Parnell. "The $1,200 resource rebate goes to that philosophy."

In addition to the $1,200 payments, the Legislature also approved Palin's proposal to suspend the state's 8-cents-a-gallon gasoline tax for a year.

Past dividend payments ranged from $331 to $1,963 in 2000. Last year's payout was $1,654. People must live in Alaska one calendar year to qualify. For residents in Alaska's rural communities, the money can't arrive at a more crucial time.

"When it gets real cold in winter, it can take five gallons of fuel for heating overnight," said Wanda Sue Page, who lives in the Arctic village of Noatak, where residents pay more than $9 a gallon for gasoline and nearly $10 a gallon for heating oil.

"I'm going to fill my 52-gallon tank up to the top and put the heat up real high," Page said. "And when it gets empty, I'm going to fill it again."

In all, 610,768 people are receiving the dividend this year. The state's estimated population is just under 680,000.

The fund was established in 1976 after North Slope oil was discovered. Including the upcoming dividends, the fund has yielded $16.5 billion to Alaskans since the first payout of $1,000 in 1982, according to the state Revenue Department.

That's not counting this year's extra energy relief money, which alone totals $730 million.

Sam Shields, who lives in the Kuskokwim River town of Bethel, said the state money is desperately needed in his community, where he recently saw a whole chicken selling for $23 at the local grocery store.

"Everyone around here was happy to hear how much we're getting," he said. "Mainly everybody here is saying they're going to use it on fuel."

[lnett-2009]

I would give my governor great reviews too oif he helped get me an extra $3200. a year. It is why Palin wants to open up drilling in Federally Restricted areas. It''s a popularity contest to her. Someone needs to explain to her that she is no longer in high school. Drill baby, Drill... Does anyone care about what this drilling will do to our environment? Just take a look at the Gulf Coast compared to The East and West Coast. Drilling is not the answer.

[maverickgrn]

Now I don''t know what I''m doing wrong, but I hope someone will answer the question. What does "%201u.." mean

[maverickgrn]

My comment didn''t print right. I''ll try again. What does "%u201COther people%u201D" mean. I see this expression a lot. I''d like to know what it is.

[maverickgrn]

%u201COther people%u201D

What does this expression mean? I see it a lot. I really have no idea. It''s very annoying.

[betty2700635]

that really out of our eyes! who cares......by the way I have met many mature *** women on --B O O M E R C U P I D .COM/--boomercupid has become more and more populer for meeting mature men and women

[catlady1412]

Hmm, can the government pass out common sense too? Because if it costs so much to live there, why don''t they move? Otherwise, stop complaining to the rest of us! I have no pity for people who live in a pristine wilderness but want to exploit it to ruin and then complain about the conditions!

[tootall10142]

If george wallace had been anything buy a racist sob we in arkansas and oklahoma would be collecting timber money.well now we just collect casino money and sell our trinkets to the whiteman that comes to gawk at our ceremonies ,funny isnt it the last six words in ceremonies is monies

[lewiston14]

clovisbuford: I think you about a dozen people that did not catch my drift so let them spell it out for you. So like a dogs dish keep waiting in anticipation. You figure it out.

[ioweign]

Think Alaskans get a free ride or something? They live with some of the highest prices in the nation and deserve their yearly dividend. You have to live in Alaska for a couple of years to qualify. If other states such as Wyoming that have such an abundance of natural resources should follow Alaska''''s lead and provide dividends for its citizens as well. Go AK!

Posted by hereticzero at 09:06 PM : Sep 06, 2008


Sounds like the American version of Venezuela...

[clovisbuford]

Think Alaskans get a free ride or something? They live with some of the highest prices in the nation and deserve their yearly dividend. You have to live in Alaska for a couple of years to qualify. If other states such as Wyoming that have such an abundance of natural resources should follow Alaska''''s lead and provide dividends for its citizens as well. Go AK!
Posted by hereticzero at 09:06 PM : Sep 06, 2008
Alaskand gee4t more per capita in federal funding than any other state , over 7,000 $ per citizen .. talk about on the government trough .

[clovisbuford]

And they don%u2019t have many if any of the %u201COther people%u201D You know the ones that are dragging you down and really making your gas $9.00 a gallon also. It just looks different on paper Posted by lewiston14 at 12:31 PM : Sep 06, 2008
is eagerly awaiting a clarification of this remark since Iam confused as to who"other people" are " I wait with anticipation.

[hereticzero-2009]

Think Alaskans get a free ride or something? They live with some of the highest prices in the nation and deserve their yearly dividend. You have to live in Alaska for a couple of years to qualify. If other states such as Wyoming that have such an abundance of natural resources should follow Alaska''s lead and provide dividends for its citizens as well. Go AK!

[lewiston14]

Nancy: This country does not have a clue where its heading.

[lewiston14]

Nancy for 50 percent and 50 percent against ( the congerss im worried about) We are looking at 4 more years of the same old things if you buddy Bush LOL dont gets us blown up in the next few monthes

[karenbe111]

No wonder she screams "drill baby drill" and everyone in Alaska will vote for her! Good thing for the rest of us their numbers are so small and the Republicans will not get another four years to rip the rest of us off!!!

[lewiston14]

You need something more then harsh words to survive in washington.

Yea right $20 for a stupid chicken good luck. did not happen here today. Remember russia just stopped importing 100s of millions of pounds of chickens. You would think perdue would be giving them away. Feed the chickens let them die of get out of business. I thik we will be importing 100s of millions of chickens in a month or two

[lewiston14]

Funny I just went to the store here in NY and saw $15 to $20 roasters. If these rancher guys think they are going to get that much for something that cooks down to 50 percent grease they are in the wrong business.

[jmurrieta1]

"All the federal money is for projects for YOU! Not Alaskans.


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Posted by darkmeat4



Oh yeah! I always wanted to take a bridge to nowhere! the bridge that Palin supported before she opposed it, when she stabbed her mentors in the back.

I sure hope McCain has a knife-proof vest to wear.

[lewiston14]

Gee and all we got was a lousy $300 and no tee shirt. I think useable fuel is expensive up there because they do not have any refineries so shipping is a huge expense. Then enter the old fashion top hat smug heaters that will burn off of everyday crude oil. Add a blower into the burning chamber and it becomes a lot cleaner and a lot cheaper. Don%u2019t be jealous USA you got your $300 and their still printing out money to cover it. OBTW they have jobs to up there to if you don%u2019t mind the cold. Ill take Alaska over Florida or NOLA any day And they don%u2019t have many if any of the %u201COther people%u201D You know the ones that are dragging you down and really making your gas $9.00 a gallon also. It just looks different on paper

[lordmi]

to rwassel - where is a platform?
and also where are reforms?