Overview

• Nearly every Alaskan resident receives an annual dividend from the state's oil fund, totaling $1,312 this year.
• Residents use the money for everything from vacations to home heating, but some rely heavily on it for basic needs.
• As oil revenue declines, the dividend now competes for state funding with services like education and healthcare.
• Lawmakers fiercely debate the dividend's size and role, unable to reach agreement on balancing it against investment in Alaska's growth.
• With the state struggling to retain workers and residents, there are growing concerns about the dividend's long-term sustainability.