Alaska lawmakers set oil check among at around $1,000

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Alaska lawmakers early Sunday approved a budget that set this October’s oil wealth fund check to nearly every single Alaskan at about $1,000, but did not approve a second dividend intended to help residents struggling with the economic fallout caused by the coronavirus.

Lawmakers worked into the early morning hours to approve the budget, and then took an extended recess to allow members to go to their homes in response to the coronavirus.

The Senate in its budget plan had included a $1,000 economic stimulus payment. That would have required a draw from Alaska Permanent Fund earnings beyond a withdrawal limit many lawmakers have not wanted to violate.

However, that $1,000 was stripped by a conference committee that was tasked with resolving differences between the two bills, KTUU reported.

The budget, which includes $75 million in public health funding to address COVID-19, now goes to Gov. Mike Dunleavy.