Permanent Fund Dividend
I support the biggest PFD we can afford, but right now, we can't afford a ham sandwich.
I support the biggest PFD we can afford. But right now, we can't afford a ham sandwich.
Election after election, candidates promise Alaskans a big Permanent Fund Dividend. It's an easy applause line. But it's an empty promise if we don't fix the underlying fiscal reality. Alaska is running an operating deficit of $500 million to $1 billion every year. We cannot write checks we don't have the revenue to back up.
I come from a world of performance, not promises. That means telling Alaskans the truth, and then doing the hard work to fix it so we can actually deliver a strong, sustainable PFD for generations to come. That's not a retreat from the PFD. It's a commitment to making it real.
The Fiscal Reality
Alaska's operating revenues are in decline while spending continues to climb. Oil volatility, over-reliance on Permanent Fund earnings, and years of unchecked government growth have created a structural deficit that can't be solved by raiding the fund. If we continue on the current path, we won't just lose the PFD, we'll hollow out the fund itself. That's a catastrophe we cannot allow.
Grow Revenue, Don't Redistribute Poverty
The path to a bigger PFD is not higher taxes, it's a bigger economy. Every time you tax something you get less of it: less work, less investment, less growth. The answer is to grow Alaska's private sector, develop our resources responsibly, attract new investment, and rebuild state revenues from a position of economic strength. A thriving Alaska economy is the only sustainable engine for a strong, long-term PFD.
Protect the Fund for Future Generations
The Permanent Fund is the most valuable financial asset Alaska has ever created. It belongs to every Alaskan, today and for the next hundred years. As Governor, I will fight to protect the fund's principal, ensure its earnings are managed responsibly, and never allow short-term political pressure to compromise its long-term integrity. The fund is not a piggy bank. It is Alaska's inheritance.
Control Spending First
Before we can promise Alaskans a larger PFD, we have to get our spending under control. That means a thorough audit of every state agency, elimination of waste and inefficiency, and a commitment to living within our means. The same discipline I applied in my businesses, tracking every dollar, holding people accountable, demanding results, is what I will bring to state government. You can't build financial strength on a crumbling fiscal foundation.
Matt's PFD Commitments
Support the largest sustainable PFD Alaska can afford
Honest fiscal management, no empty promises
Control government spending
Protect the Permanent Fund principal for future generations
Grow revenue through economic development, not new taxes
Full transparency in how fund earnings are managed
Never raid the fund for short-term political gain
"Every Alaskan deserves their share of our resource wealth. I'll do the hard work to make it sustainable."
Matt Heilala