[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6328475,"mediaKeyId","2318577-de12623756c59f979ed417d0847825cc","parentId",2318577,"title","Senate Republicans warn PFD math doesn't add up; debate permanent fund structure, taxes and gas‑line revenues","audioSeconds",640,"startMs",464000,"endMs",1104000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2318577-de12623756c59f979ed417d0847825cc&start=464&end=1104","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2318577-de12623756c59f979ed417d0847825cc/thumbnail_464000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6328475/Alaska/Senate-Republicans-warn-PFD-math-doesnt-add-up-debate-permanent-fund-structure-taxes-and-gasline-revenues","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328475-ef6c5eb32a66c48f3a69e37f08875f34/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202810&Signature=GAnelOzwbqJFeCeiQrIEfQaRd~49HC8wCTvYt1ZTpWFnKkm~Qv~COyjI0XzhyvfVgrmheCa9o-JW4qT44BYPyZulDdN-4MLLBYKQC7oFZA7KAM~HoFNLXin5QX783IEyDPAm5oLmoMq37wacK6sgV5zpAew9e43qqWy7HOIHOmpHMLLaUsOTYHJoie0aygxlFMXJZUbLLIjCUxkjRPB-ucjCZXFqAGdK0bnsjopzOmsjFRwDwIJxGsAxN0QMfJpFtGC48gCbBo2yjzmKHL0ejMSXQa-PgTBDw6IMTk3j53bTs1XPY67QHtRARa3OCwPs0eG-EldeC~skMTUYSjhHVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska Legislature","date","2025-02-13T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Republican lawmakers used a press briefing to challenge recent majority statements about the state's fiscal situation, saying proposals to increase spending — including education funding and defined‑benefit costs — conflict with plans to preserve a significant Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) without new, unspecified revenues.

At the outset, one senator said: “If we're going to be fiscally responsible, we cannot spend more money than we are taking in.” The same lawmaker told reporters that “the math does not add up” if the PFD remains at roughly $1,400 while new spending is added, and that raising new taxes to preserve the PFD would amount to “take money from the private sector” and redistribute it as a dividend.

Senator Schauer, who identified himself as a former member of a fiscal policy working group that proposed a comprehensive package, said he will not vote for a single tax unless it is part of a broader fiscal plan that includes a spending cap tied to inflation and other fiscal reforms. “I'm not gonna vote for a single tax… until we enact a comprehensive fiscal policy,” Schauer said.

Schauer also said he is not supporting SB 92 (a bill discussed during the session) because he believes passing it would risk deterring future investment in Alaska. “Passing SB 92 would deter that possibility,” he said, and placed that position on the record.

Permanent Fund structure and POMV: reporters asked whether the caucus has considered changing the Permanent Fund structure (including the ERA and moving to a single account). One senator warned such changes could “march down the path of making the PFD extinct,” and others suggested options to stabilize withdrawals — for example, lengthening the averaging window for the POMV draw from four to five years to smooth volatility.

Gas‑line and AGDC: responding to questions about the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) and whether the state should continue supporting the agency, a senator on the resources committee said he believes the current prospects are more favorable than in past decades. He noted confidentiality constraints on private negotiations but said international markets appear to be aligning and that state funding beyond a $50 million FEED backstop may not be required unless the state seeks a larger equity stake.

No formal motions or votes were taken at the press conference. Senators said further caucus discussions will continue and another press event is possible if an education or fiscal package moves forward.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate MINORITY CAUCUS 02/13/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Republican members at a press conference said the numbers currently discussed for maintaining a sizable Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) are inconsistent with other spending proposals and cautioned against raising taxes without a comprehensive fiscal plan. Senators also discussed the gas‑line project, AGDC and potential revenue implications.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Alaska, Alaska","taxId",78559,"location","Alaska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6328479,"Senate Republicans say education talks productive but no agreement yet on BSA or policy changes",1643,436000,2079000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2318577-de12623756c59f979ed417d0847825cc&start=436&end=2079","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2318577-de12623756c59f979ed417d0847825cc/thumbnail_436000.jpg","/articles/6328479/Alaska/Senate-Republicans-say-education-talks-productive-but-no-agreement-yet-on-BSA-or-policy-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328479-988ee9b35da28b498db4e36c77a93861/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202810&Signature=QKmt0kHzupY9E2t8SqKMRiwovLoWmVUnPRU6vDFiR2OuT-y6UdHBlJUdxV5aw4nzuKJh6apMY9zs~Z0WzlAM8eeD19gNudCImb7352ed0C3xVFBKDOEqjAJKWR0duNs07davsBpotUigHuZ6eUNZEphQSG0w~QrzjGnt7uvArv7ecYLvNd~Ows--W~Eux45bUhAA-FEZyhSmxiTtcCgsz0Me2gIPLmnLvxk7f-Zcwwo3Fe-8-3Y8bLq5vVYNIPtH-H2PNbWG1YtPSLHZPpGJN-yA~0OL~Bnp1BlS4Yaprszcsnb9j0ZhrT7JntYEPHDSmvzxNvAp9sXKPfcCGgvoIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Republican lawmakers held a press conference to update reporters on ongoing education negotiations, saying three days of meetings produced “very good dialogue” but no final agreement on funding or policy.

Senator Hughes said the negotiation sessions were “very productive” but that lawmakers “didn't come to a conclusion” after three days of discussion. Senator Kronk, also on the negotiating team, said the group recognized rising costs in schools and that “we do need to address it” while pairing funding with policy reforms.

Why it matters: the Base Student Allocation (BSA) is the core per-student funding line used by Alaska school districts; changes to the BSA and companion policy adjustments would affect how state education dollars are distributed to districts, charter schools and correspondence (homeschool) programs across the state.

Lawmakers on the panel declined to name a specific BSA increase. “We don't even think we tossed a number out,” one senator said, adding that the finance committee is still modeling what the state can afford. Reporters were told the caucus is keeping a funding target open until revenue and budget modeling are clearer.

On policy, senators discussed pairing any BSA increase with reforms intended to improve academic outcomes. Kronk, a retired teacher, emphasized looking “at every student,” noting that “homeschool is about 20% of all of our kids now,” and said the caucus was discussing support for charter and correspondent public schools alongside neighborhood schools. She cited national research and programs such as Read‑by‑3 as policy models that have produced measurable results elsewhere.

Kronk said some states set higher per‑pupil allotments for correspondent students; she noted Tennessee’s allotment was about $7,300 and contrasted that with the allotment figure discussed for Alaska in the briefing. She added that any policy changes should be properly funded, and that “a 5% increase is a huge increase” in some districts.

Reporters asked whether charter and school‑choice policies lift neighborhood schools. The senators pointed to organizations that track school‑choice outcomes — including ExcelinEd (the education reform organization founded by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush) and EdChoice — as sources of the research they cited.

No formal action or vote occurred at the press conference. Senators said they expect further negotiation and may hold another press conference if the education package advances to a bill or caucus position.

The session closed with a reminder from the senate leadership to “disagree without being disagreeable,” and officials said they intend to continue negotiations with the aim of pairing funding increases with policy reforms.","Senate Republican members who briefed reporters said three days of education negotiations produced substantial dialogue on Base Student Allocation increases and policy reforms — including charter and correspondent schools — but no final agreement or dollar figure has been settled.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate Republicans warn PFD math doesn't add up; debate permanent fund structure, taxes and gas‑line revenues

Senate Republicans say education talks productive but no agreement yet on BSA or policy changes