With a girlfriend (soon to be fiancee :) ) up there, I travel to Anchorage @ 8 times per year..... Gas is sig more expensive and it is NOT easy living from about now through April/May.
Having said that, I have absolutely no problems with the residents getting a yearly stipend. One more item, they need to be residents for 2 years ( I believe) before one is eligible for the dividend.
MFO
They need to be a resident for the entire previous year. I lived in Alaska for 4 years.