Alaska is 3rd fastest growing state... (Ketchikan, Metlakatla: how much, college, income)

[wildchild_to]

Originally Posted by Alaskapat528

You forget....making it through the first winter scares many off.

That is fine let them make it through 3,4,5 years of winter before they get the funds. Call me cruel. Why should some one just move up there and get free money in a year and have not contributed nothing to the state. If this keeps up PFD will be gone sooner than later.

[SityData]

Too many people are bringing their bad, nasty, attitudes, with them to this state! STAY AWAY!

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by wildchild_to

That is fine let them make it through 3,4,5 years of winter before they get the funds. Call me cruel. Why should some one just move up there and get free money in a year and have not contributed nothing to the state. If this keeps up PFD will be gone sooner than later.

I agree with you; set the residency requirement for 5 years and must have worked for 4 years.

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by SityData

Too many people are bringing their bad, nasty, attitudes, with them to this state! STAY AWAY!

I have to agree with that; I'm beginning to see it too often in both Wasilla and Palmer.

[NOTAM]

i highly doubt that the pfd is even one of the top reasons for relocating to AK....pfd was $1100 in 2011. i bet that doesnt even come close to offsetting the costs of heating, winterizing vehicles, buying gear (winter clothes) needed to live comfortably in the elements, and the higher cost of living in general (rent/housing prices, food prices).

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by SityData

Too many people are bringing their bad, nasty, attitudes, with them to this state! STAY AWAY!

There are people with bad, nasty attitudes all over in every state...We moved up for employment reasons and left 2 years later for the same because the slope was going downhill then. We also funded the local economy, bought a house and paid real estate taxes, DMV fees, etc. After 2 years being gone, we still own the house, pay real estate taxes, and fund a local insurance company, utility companies, various other businesses, as well as pay the tax on the rental to the local borough. Oh, and even though eligible we never filed for the PFD...so in my mind bad, nasty attitudes can be in the eyes of the beholder also...

[Metlakatla]

I don't think it really factors into it much either...though there seem to be a lot of misconceptions about the pfd. A lot of people assume that it's higher than it is, I've heard people say that it's a monthly payment...there's a general sense that Alaska pays people to live there though I'm not sure how much of that is responsible for people moving up. I think the reasons Chilkoot gave are the correct ones.

They used to, though. When it first started, the only residency requirement was that someone live in the state for 6 months. There was one family that moved to Ketchikan with either 11 or 13 children, can't remember which, and high tailed it back to Washington after they all got their checks.

One thing I've never cared for about the pfd is that the parents have complete control over the checks that their children get.

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

I don't think it really factors into it much either...though there seem to be a lot of misconceptions about the pfd. A lot of people assume that it's higher than it is, I've heard people say that it's a monthly payment...there's a general sense that Alaska pays people to live there though I'm not sure how much of that is responsible for people moving up. I think the reasons Chilkoot gave are the correct ones.

They used to, though. When it first started, the only residency requirement was that someone live in the state for 6 months. There was one family that moved to Ketchikan with either 11 or 13 children, can't remember which, and high tailed it back to Washington after they all got their checks.

One thing I've never cared for about the pfd is that the parents have complete control over the checks that their children get.

I really agree with that! I think any underage resident should have that put in a trust of some type until they reach legal age, preferably for education or maybe an emergency medical cause or situation stipulation.

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by Grannysroost

There are people with bad, nasty attitudes all over in every state...We moved up for employment reasons and left 2 years later for the same because the slope was going downhill then. We also funded the local economy, bought a house and paid real estate taxes, DMV fees, etc. After 2 years being gone, we still own the house, pay real estate taxes, and fund a local insurance company, utility companies, various other businesses, as well as pay the tax on the rental to the local borough. Oh, and even though eligible we never filed for the PFD...so in my mind bad, nasty attitudes can be in the eyes of the beholder also...

As more and more people move up here it is natural to get bad, nasty attitudes as well as good ones, as in other states. Unless you've been here in the last year or so, you really can't say. I didn't say all were bad, nasty attitudes; it is a mix and many are good. Alaska has sure changed in the 11 years I've seen.

Edit - it has nothing to do with in the eye of the beholder.

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by NOTAM

i highly doubt that the pfd is even one of the top reasons for relocating to AK....pfd was $1100 in 2011. i bet that doesnt even come close to offsetting the costs of heating, winterizing vehicles, buying gear (winter clothes) needed to live comfortably in the elements, and the higher cost of living in general (rent/housing prices, food prices).

I worked with folks collecting welfare to get them back to work. The excuses I heard why they couldn't work were plentiful! We are talking about healthy, able-bodied adults. And quess what, they collect a PFD too. That is why I stand by changing the work requirements and residency.