Alaska

Alaska’s minimum wage is set to rise, but increase fails to keep pace with housing costs

Published

2 years ago

October 24, 2022

Alaska’s minimum wage is set to rise, but increase fails to keep pace with housing costs

This chart exhibits the change in Alaska’s minimal wage and the estimated dwelling wage in Anchorage between 2012 and 2023. Knowledge for the dwelling wage is drawn from the MIT Dwelling Wage Calculator, annual rental estimates printed by the Alaska Division of Labor, and relies on 12% tax withholding. (Graphic by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska’s minimal wage will rise 51 cents, to $10.85 per hour, beginning subsequent yr.

The adjustment, introduced Friday by the Alaska Division of Labor and Workforce Growth, is meant to compensate for a 5% rise in the price of dwelling in Anchorage. Alaska regulation requires the minimal wage to be adjusted annually for inflation. Regardless of the rise, the minimal wage stays effectively under a broadly used measure of a dwelling wage in Alaska.

In Anchorage, the median condo rental value is $1,339 per 30 days, in accordance with a survey performed this yr by the Alaska Housing Finance Corp. and the Division of Labor. That determine consists of lease and utilities and rose 14% from final yr.

Bearing in mind 12% withheld for taxes, somebody incomes minimal wage must work 35 hours per week in a four-week month to cowl the price of housing.

The MIT dwelling wage calculator identifies $1,554 in different prices per 30 days, together with meals, transportation and different bills. That determine relies on estimates from numerous federal sources.

At minimal wage, a person grownup must work one other 41 hours per week to cowl these prices.

Altogether, estimates point out somebody incomes minimal wage must work 71 hours per week to fulfill their fundamental wants in Anchorage.

If that particular person had one little one, they must work an extra 20 hours per week at minimal wage to cowl the price of little one care, in accordance with the MIT estimate. Every extra little one is estimated to price one other 20 hours of labor per week.

A dwelling wage is outlined because the minimal quantity wanted to pay for fundamental wants whereas working a normal 40-hour workweek. In all of Alaska’s cities and boroughs, the minimal wage is considerably under the dwelling wage quantity.

Within the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, somebody must work 69 hours per week at minimal wage to fulfill fundamental wants. In Fairbanks, it’s 75 hours. In Juneau, it’s 74 hours.

Based mostly on present estimated prices, the minimal wage would must be above $18.08 per hour with a view to be a dwelling wage in Anchorage.

No state’s present minimal wage is at or above the statewide dwelling wage.

This story initially appeared within the Alaska Beacon and is republished right here with permission.

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Alaska

Alaska Republicans bring in national lawyer, will ask for recount on Ballot Measure 2

Published

7 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Alaska Republicans bring in national lawyer, will ask for recount on Ballot Measure 2

The Alaska Republican Party said on Sunday that it will be asking the Division of Elections for a recount of the votes on Ballot Measure 2, which gave Alaskans the option of repealing ranked-choice voting.

Although dark money from Outside Alaska overwhelmed proponents of the repeal, it ended up failing to be repealed by just 664 votes, a tiny margin.

Of the 340,110 votes cast on the measure, the margin of “No” votes to “Yes” votes was 160,619 to 159,955, or 50.1% to 49.9%. The state must cover the costs of a recount when the margin is this close.

“We will submit this request, along with the names of the requisite Alaskan voters required to initiate this process, once the election is certiﬁed, which is scheduled for November 30, 2024,” said the statement issued by the Alaska Republican Party.

The party has hired the Dhillon Law Group, led by Harmeet K. Dhillon, to be on the ground during the recount and review, along with Alaska-based party counsel and observers.

“Ms. Dhillon and her firm are a nationally recognized, seasoned election integrity legal team, and bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to this recount process. Ms. Dhillon is an expert in election law. She and her colleagues Michael Columbo and Mark Meuser were recently on the legal teams in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and other crucial locations nationally to ensure a fair, transparent, and thorough process,” said Party Chairwoman Carmela Warfield. “Our Party Counsel, Ms. Stacey Stone and her team, are experienced Alaskan election law practitioners, and in September 2024, they successfully intervened on the Alaska Republican Party’s behalf in the case of Alaska Democratic Party v. State of Alaska Division of Elections, ultimately prevailing in the Alaska Supreme Court.”

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Alaska

101-year-old woman shares her birthday reflections with Alaska’s News Source

Published

16 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

101-year-old woman shares her birthday reflections with Alaska’s News Source

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Norma Aldefer didn’t expect to turn 100. Now, one day after her 101st birthday, she’s even more surprised.

Inside her pristine apartment, Aldefer’s table is full of cards wishing her a happy birthday. She points out a favorite, which reads “You’re how old?”

Celebratory messages from loved ones, along with congratulations from state officials Senator Lisa Murkowski and Governor Mike Dunleavy. Aldefer said last year’s centennial birthday even brought in regards from President Joe Biden.

Aldefer moved to Alaska to marry her husband, who was originally from her hometown. The photograph she has at her side is of her as a younger woman posing with her mother in 1948.

Norma and her parents pose “all dressed up” for family photos.(Olivia Nordyke)

“We took pictures of ourselves and and I’m all dressed up in high heels and a hat and a purse. And my little bag that I was carrying.” Aldefer said she was scared leaving the small farm she grew up on, but by working as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell, she expanded her horizons.

Multiple times Aldefer stated she’s remained curious all her years. She said it’s the reason she’s been able to maintain herself rather than losing her faculties, and believes it’s the way to feel fulfilled.

“Sometimes people get into things they don’t enjoy, but they think, ‘Oh, I have to make a living.’ Don’t do that. If you’re not comfortable, go do something else,” Aldefer said.

“May not make a good living for a while, but you might enjoy life.”

Aldefer says she still enjoys life, and continues to enjoy a nightly martini alongside cheese and crackers before she begins to cook dinner.

Over the course of the interview, she marveled at her gratitude for her world – calling herself blessed.

“I know I’m not going to be here much probably much longer, but I’ve had such a good life, you know. I’m not afraid of it.”

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