From Juneau to You! Dear Friends, I hope you have had a great fall. Looking at the mountains, it'll only be a matter of time before the snow blankets our city for the next several months. Please be careful when traveling on snowy/slippery roads because, as you know, the roads can get very slippery and hazardous in snowy conditions. Here are some tips to keep you and your family safe during the winter: Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination- leave early. Take your time and drive slower. Leave extra space between yourself and other vehicles. Have an emergency kit that includes a shovel, ice scraper, hand warmers, blankets, food and water. Additionally, check out The Alaska Department of Transportation’s handy Know Before You Go road condition map or dial the new 511-INFO. Let's look out for each other as we begin to approach the winter months. Legislative Townhall I'd like to thank everyone who was able to join Representative Galvin, Representative Josephson, and I for our Legislative Town Hall meeting last month. We had a good turnout and robust discussion about the issues that matter most to our community. It was so helpful to hear diverse perspectives on topics like improving infrastructure, enhancing safety, and funding for schools. I'm confident that by working together, we can make meaningful progress on these important matters. The level of engagement I saw confirms that you are a dedicated, passionate group of constituents that I have the honor of serving. I'm hopeful that we'll continue to accomplish great things together. Permanent Fund Dividend The Alaska Permanent Fund is a state investment fund that was established in 1976 to invest a portion of Alaska's oil revenue for future generations. Each year a portion of the earnings from the fund are distributed to eligible Alaska residents in the form of the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD). Although the amount in the Governor's budget was more than what was appropriated, it was important to provide a PFD that was sustainable now and for future generations. State Statutes dictate that we are only allowed to use 5% of the Permanent Fund’s earnings reserve. Half of that is for services and the other half is for a PFD. I recognize that there are many of you who depend on the annual PFD for reasons such as paying bills, buying needed food and clothing, or medicine. But, if the statutory PFD was provided, the result would have been fewer services that would include senior and disability services, Medicaid, and more in addition to an unbalanced budget which is not allowed. We really need to address changing the PFD formula so that it is more aligned with reality today in 2023 and not 1980. Hopefully, that will happen during the next Legislative Session which starts on January 16, 2024. Although there are some who aren't very pleased with the $1,312 PFD, I’m proud of the budget both the Senate and the House approved because it provided funding for services including much-needed childcare grants, school funding, Medicaid, and more. It also provided for a sustainable PFD and a budget surplus of $84M instead of a deficit. Alaska Performance Scholarship The Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS) is a merit-based award for Alaska high school graduates. Students qualify for one of three award levels by meeting specific criteria: • Grade Point Average (GPA) • Completion of a specified rigorous curriculum • Earn a qualifying score on a standardized exam Standardized test scores such as the ACT, SAT, and WorkKeys are required for APS eligibility. Students must earn a qualified score on one of these tests in order to meet the testing requirement of the Alaska Performance Scholarship eligibility. Additionally, submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) serves as the application for the APS. Students should submit the FAFSA by June 30th each year they plan to pursue education after high school. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to my office at: Besse Odom Chief of Staff 907 269-0174  Jeff Stepp Legislative Council Aide 907-465-4930 Send us an Email Follow Me on Facebook Follow Me on Twitter I’m Senator Elvi, always..... "Listening and Representing Your Interests!” Alaska Senate Democrats | Capitol Building, 4th Avenue & Main Street, Juneau, AK 99801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]