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Archive for March, 2021

Tomorrow last day to apply for PFD

Tuesday, March 30th, 2021

Don’t forget to apply for your Permanent Fund Dividend. The deadline to file for the 2021 Dividend is Wednesday, March, 31 at 11:59 p.m.

All other supplemental documentation (example: birth certificate, proof of residency, etc.) can be submitted after April 1st or upon request.

The online application is the easiest way to file. The online application can be completed in minutes, and if you provide an email address, a confirmation email will be sent upon submission of the application.  Login to your myAlaska account to electronically sign the application. If you don’t have a myAlaska account, everyone is eligible to create one. Online applications requesting direct deposit are eligible to receive the 2021 payment in the 1st disbursement in the beginning of October.

Paper applications are available at distribution centers or by clicking this link. Online applications that select payment by check are eligible to receive the 2021 payment in the 2nd disbursement at the end of October.

The easiest and fastest way is to file ONLINE now.

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Where is the COVID-19 federal relief money going?

Friday, March 26th, 2021

Today in Senate Finance committee, we heard from the Office of Management and Budget and the Legislative Finance Division about where previous COVID-19 federal relief money was spent. In addition, we were also provided an outline for spending timelines and guidelines for the next round of stimulus money coming to Alaska as a part of the American Rescue Plan that was recently passed in Washington. Alaska has over $2 billion set to come into state and local governments. To put that in perspective, the governor’s total proposed state budget for this year is $12.3 billion from all funds, state and federal.

While last year, the Legislature authorized the governor to spend the CARES Act money through a process called revised program legislative (RPL), this latest round of funding will be appropriated by the Legislature.

As it stands, there is still a lack of guidance on various allocation measures from the federal treasury. As a state, we cannot allocate all parts of this money until we receive the specific allowances and restrictions on how it can be spent legally from the federal government. It is very likely that we will not receive this guidance for several weeks, around May 10. It is a substantial amount of money, in several different pots, but a lot of our decisions depend on the guidance coming in May.

Stimulus payments

Many Alaskans have already received their $1,400 stimulus checks by direct deposit, which were also a part of this recent stimulus bill. The IRS started sending the first batch of payments with an official payment date of March 17. If you have not received one yet, it does not mean you won’t. Check your eligibility and status at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment.

The Treasury will send payments each week to eligible individuals as the IRS continues to process tax returns. Payments are sent by direct deposit or mail as a check or debit card.

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Alaska budget analysis adjusted for inflation shows overall agency spending down

Friday, March 12th, 2021

One of our major presentations last week looked at some important modeling of budget history and agency budget history over the past 20 years. When people think “cut the budget” they normally are talking about agency budget operations. The nonpartisan Legislative Finance department compared agency budgets from 2005, using unrestricted general funds adjusted for inflation. This analysis highlighted that many of the proposed budgets for these agencies in the governor’s 2022 budget bill have been reduced back down to levels from 10 or more years ago. Here are some highlights from that inflation adjusted chart:

The governor’s 2022 budget for the Departments of Commerce, Labor, Natural Resources, Transportation and the University are all back down to their 2005 levels or lower.

$661.2 million of UGF budget reductions were made from FY15-18, with every agency’s budget going down. There have been over $140 million in cuts to the University budget since 2015 and $83 million in cuts to the Alaska Marine Highway system, but these large cuts have produced no net reductions in the overall budget.

The cuts were offset by large increases in the Department of Corrections budget, which is the highest it has been since 2005, increasing by $127 million since 2005. The Judiciary budget has also increased from $77 million in 2005 to $108 million in the governor’s 2022 budget. In addition, our retirement liability payments have been rising each year. Since 2018, they have increased by over 100% and in 2022 will cost the state around $340 million.

Since FY18, reductions in some areas have balanced out increases elsewhere, indicating we might be at the “floor” for our current government structure. Major legislation changing statutes would be needed to make further significant reductions.

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Senate Finance to Hold Public Testimony on Operating & Capital Budgets, March 17-18

Friday, March 12th, 2021

Next week, March 17th and 18th, the Senate Finance Committee will hold public testimony on the operating (SB 49) and capital (SB 50) budgets. 

All public testimony will be conducted telephonically:  

  • Juneau: 907-586-9085
  • Anchorage: 907-563-9085
  • Elsewhere: 844-586-9085

Written testimony will be accepted at: finance.committee@akleg.gov

Please note your location and call in accordingly.  

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

9:00 a.m.

For Nome, Bethel, Kotzebue, Utqiagvik, Unalaska, Dillingham, & All Other Locations

Call in/sign up by 10:30 a.m.

1:00 p.m.

For Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage, & Matanuska Valley

Call in/sign up by 2:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 18, 2021

9:00 a.m.

For Southeast, Prince William Sound, & Kodiak

Call in/sign up by 10:30 a.m.

1:00 p.m.

For Fairbanks, Interior, & Copper River Valley, & All Other Locations

Call in/sign up by 2:30 p.m.

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Stedman assembles well-versed team to develop budget

Friday, March 5th, 2021

From left to right: Pete Ecklund, Amanda Ryder, Sen. Bert Stedman, Melissa Kookesh, Mollie Barnes, David Scott.

Although the 32nd Legislature looks different from those in past years, we are still going to keep working to pass a budget and uphold our other constitutional duties.

In addition to navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession, we still need to work out old problems, such as revitalizing the Alaska Marine Highway System and provide a functioning transportation system for Southeast and balancing our state revenues with our expenditures. While the federal stimulus relief money helped offset some of the losses from 2020, we still have a lot of work to do when it comes to getting our financial house in order.

As always, I am excited to have the opportunity to represent Southeast Alaska as the co-chair of the Senate Finance committee and advocate for our interests in these trying times to bring health, security, and prosperity to Alaska.

From left to right: Amanda Ryder, Pete Ecklund, Sen. Bert Stedman, Mollie Barnes, Melissa Kookesh, David Scott.


Meet my current team:

David Scott:  David is from Metlakatla and is Tsimshian.  He has worked 14 years in the legislature in various roles including Chief of Staff to the House Majority Leader and for Senator Donald Olson from Golovin. David carries most of my personal legislation and is my current chief of staff.  He is a veteran and before coming to the Legislature was a rescue swimmer for the United States Navy on the USS Stethem.  He currently lives in Ketchikan with his wife and two daughters.

Melissa Kookesh:  Melissa is from Angoon and is Athabaskan and Tlingit.  Her first year in the Legislature was 1995 when she worked as a House Page and she has been with the office since 2015.  She was formerly the assistant to the President of the Central Council Tlingit Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska which is one of the largest tribes in the United States. Outside of the capitol, she currently serves as the Board Chair for her village corporation, a position she has held since 2016.

Mollie Barnes: Mollie is from St. Louis, Missouri, and has been living in Juneau since 2018. She started working for me this past summer. Previously she was a journalist in the Capitol for the Juneau Empire, and has had her work published in various publications across the country. She also was the Communications Manager for my 2020 Senate campaign.

Pete Ecklund:  Pete is from Ketchikan and is Tsimshian.  He has worked since 1994 in the Legislature. During this time, Pete has coordinated and worked closely for many years on the operating budget for co-chairmen in both the House and Senate Finance Committees for 22 years. He has been in charge of nine operating budgets, seven capital budgets and has done committee legislation once.

Amanda Ryder: Amanda has worked as the Operating Budget Coordinator for the Legislative Finance Division for more than twenty years. She joins my team this session and will be working on the operating budget for the finance committee. Amanda and her husband have lived in Juneau since 1990. Prior to that, she lived in Wrangell and near Hoonah for several years. She loves reading and playing a variety of sports such as volleyball, pickleball, and golf.  

We look forward to working hard for the district and state. Please do not hesitate to contact the staff with any issues or concerns you may have regarding the district, or other issues with the state government.

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  • Recent Posts

    • Tomorrow last day to apply for PFD
    • Where is the COVID-19 federal relief money going?
    • Alaska budget analysis adjusted for inflation shows overall agency spending down
    • Senate Finance to Hold Public Testimony on Operating & Capital Budgets, March 17-18
    • Stedman assembles well-versed team to develop budget
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