Eska, you obviously do not live in the Mat-Su Borough. Our PolitBorough extracts over $400/month from me for taxes. Of course I do have to pay them unless I want to turn over the fruit of my labor the the local sheriff. But then you probably don't consider Wasilla to be rural and by Alaska standards you would be right. I thought I had researched the tax burden of living in Alaska before moving here six years ago. I had no idea the property taxes would be so onerous. Still I would do it over again. Alaska is as far from the Hillary White House one can be and still be on the mainland.
We still have a place in Sutton, and pay prop taxes there but not here in Eagle. Our taxes in the valley are still alot lower than anywhere back east. I’d say a family of 4 saves 15 thou/year in state taxes/fees between AK & PA; quite nocticeable; not even considering the pfd.
Ak is still much more tax friendly than anywhere I have ever been. Course it costs more to live here in many ways if you live in an urban area. In rural areas, you spend less out of necessity and due to lack of places to shop. It’s not how much you make, it’s how much you spend.
In rural areas, you drive much less; I spend 100/month on gas; in urban Ak; I’d be spending 800/month.
I heat with wood, grow majority of my food (huge garden), live on salmon, caribou, and moose; but the big thing is not having fast food, or places to spend money at everyday. My biggest bill is from direct tv.
Ya know we don’t have all the things to do that are found in MatSu Valley; but not all the expenses either; cheapest place to live that I have been.
A dem friend once said that once oil money runs out, Ak will have higher taxes than anywhere; and I think he’s right. Ya know, I live in alaska for the freedom; expenses won’t run me out.