Some Alaska residents willing to give up PFD to help state

JUNEAU, Alaska – Some Alaska residents say they would be willing to take a smaller Permanent Fund Dividend or pay a state income tax to help the state raise revenues so it wouldn’t have to slash spending as much as Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has proposed.

The Juneau Empire reports several Juneau and Douglas residents spoke Friday night to the House Finance Committee in what was the first in a series of community meetings the committee is holding around the state.

The committee is looking to gather Alaska residents’ thoughts on Dunleavy’s proposed budget.

Dunleavy has proposed broad cuts to health care, education and many other state services in order to pay a larger Permanent Fund Dividend without new taxes, as the state battles a $1.6 billion deficit.

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Information from: Juneau (Alaska) Empire, http://www.juneauempire.com