Dear fiscal policy working group members

By To the editor:

I write to you, both as an Alaskan and as Executive Director of Seniors of Alaska.

As you deliberate and work to formulate a just PFD for the over 600,000 eligible Alaskans, please remember that 130,000 Alaskans are Senior citizens. Thirty percent (30%) of Senior households have incomes of below $30,000 per year.

Your recommendation and agreement on the 2021 PFD will have a dramatic effect on those 30,000 plus Seniors, in addition to the many other Alaskans who rely on their PFD for property tax, winter heating bills and general living expenses. To put that into perspective, legislators will be receiving over $36,000 tax free per diem payments for a mere 4 months of living expenses.

While a few Alaskans may not “need” the PFD, they are certainly entitled to it by the intent of our states founding fathers. So, as you contemplate the amount of this year’s PFD, keep in mind the true perspective of how you will be helping the average Alaskan and your Senior constituents. The option to “not file” is always there for those who do not support the PFD.

Rather than recommend an amount, I ask that you “Walk a mile in their shoes” when considering the size of this year’s PFD.

Peter T. Zuyus,

Executive Director Seniors of Alaska, Inc.