BLUE RIBBON COOL – Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary School students wear blue sunglasses and bead necklaces given to them as part of the Blue Ribbon celebration at the school today. In September the school was named one of three schools in Alaska and 353 across the nation to win the U.S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Schools. The recognition as Exemplary High-Performing Schools was based on their overall academic performance as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
At a sparsely attended meeting Thursday, the Assembly [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
Well over 100 Sitkans attended a town hall-style prese [ ... ]
By ARIADNE WILL
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Planning Commission passed two conditional use permit [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The single finalist in the Assembly’s search for a [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
A driver was medevacked early this morning following an accident in the 20 [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
Competitors will line up Saturday for the 40th annual [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
More Alaskans will be able to access food stamps following law [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
In the last days of their two-year session, Alaska lawmakers pass [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
May 16
At 12:41 a.m. a man wa [ ... ]
Climate Building Science
As we wean ourselves off of fossil fuels by electrifying our homes, we cons [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
A fire destroyed a small island house in Thimbleberry [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola has included $5.8 million for [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The city announced Wednesday that $62,795 was stolen [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
A day of street performances, art, food and music, cap [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS,
CLAIRE STREMPLE and
YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
The 33rd Alaska State Legislature [ ... ]
By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
The Alaska Legislature has passed a bill that combines carbon sto [ ... ]
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
May 15
Shortly after noon, callers complain [ ... ]
U.S. Coast Guard
Sets Town Hall
On Boat Accident
The U.S. Coast Guard will hold a town hall 5-8 p.m. to [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
After four months of special meetings to review and d [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
Living amid craggy peaks and remnant glaciers, Southea [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
In the play opening Thursday at the Sitka Performing [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
A late-session attempt to salvage a proposal that would revive [ ... ]
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
May 14
At 7:46 a.m. a reckless driver was r [ ... ]
Life Celebration
For Carl Peterson
The family of Carl Peterson, 85, will have a celebration of his lif [ ... ]
Daily Sitka Sentinel
Stedman Sees End to Budget Impasse
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The size of this year’s permanent fund dividend could be anywhere “from 0 to $1,100 to $2,300,” says Sitka’s state senator, Bert Stedman.
“Any of those outcomes are possible,” Stedman told the Sentinel today. “The vast majority would like to have a permanent fund dividend – including myself. The issue is the size of the PFD and overdrawing the permanent fund.”
The Republican co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee spoke to the Sentinel as he waited for his flight back to Juneau to continue the third special session called by the governor to address the Permanent Fund.
“Senate Finance is waiting for the House to send the bill but it may be hard to get enough members ... on the committee and the (Senate) body on the floor,” he said.
Stedman said the Legislature voted in favor of a $1,100 dividend but lacked the votes needed to fund more than $525. Gov. Mike Dunleavy favored a “50-50 dividend plan” for a payout of $2,350, and vetoed funding for the $525 payout.
“We’re trying to put together an $1,100 dividend,” Stedman said. “It could go either way (from zero to $2,300). The concern is how we deal with the permanent fund – are we going to overdraw it and spend the earnings reserve (the non-constitutionally protected portion of the permanent fund)? Some people are more sensitive to it than others.”
Those advocating for the $1,100 payout say it’s the maximum the state can afford without overdrawing the earnings reserve.
Stedman said the debate is one that crosses party lines, and there is a diversity of views on both House and Senate sides, and across the state. He had no predictions on the final outcome.
“Zero to $1,100 to $2,300 – it could be any of those, and anywhere in between,” he said.
One of the main obstacles of the session that started earlier this month is the fact that it has gone far beyond the 120 days most legislators had planned on spending in session.
“It depends on who’s going to be there when it comes time to vote,” Stedman said. “One of the compounding difficulties when the Legislature has multiple special sessions, it becomes more difficult to meet, people get tired, they have lives to lead and family issues. It makes it hard to get everybody together. Unfortunately the governor is calling special sessions and the Legislature should have a break.”
Stedman said Dunleavy is about $800 million short if he wants to fund a $2,300 payout, which could mean $800 million in new taxes.
“Someone’s got to pay it ... it’s an $800 million hole to implement the 50-50 plan,” Stedman said. “The math doesn’t work. And (Dunleavy) hasn’t brought forth any tax or budget reductions to fill the gap. We don’t have hundreds of millions in budget reductions because the budget’s been going sideways for years.”
Stedman added that the reductions by cutting the marine highway and the state university were spent by increased costs in the Department of Corrections and pensions for teachers and state workers.
Although there are other unresolved issues – such as writing a new formula for the permanent fund – Stedman said he’s in favor of actions that “get this year’s dividend concluded, and adjourn.”
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20 YEARS AGO
May 2004
Photo caption: Sara Roa wipes a tear as retiring Sheldon Jackson College Professor Mel Seifert accepts a citation honoring his 29 years of teaching at the college, during graduation ceremonies this morning at the Hames P.E. Center.
50 YEARS AGO
May 1974
From On the Go: Vyola Belle and Kybor are leaving the Canoe Club, where they’ve been cooking for the past two years. Vyola Belle will devote her time to her Maksoutoff Caterers and Kyber will become a chef for the Marine Highway System aboard the Wickersham.