The Facts
* The ESF is expected to grow due to the substantial increase in oil and gas production across the state.
* If the fund reaches $8.1 billion as projected, the ending balance would be near a record high.
* Using one-time funds to pay for ongoing expenses is poor public policy.
Recommendations
* The ESF should only be spent on one-time emergency items or tax relief. The funds should not be spent to support ongoing expenses.
* At a minimum, even in the face of one-time emergencies, lawmakers should preserve an ESF balance equal to 5% of the general revenue and general revenue dedicated funds in the 2014-15 budget.
* Based on the 2014-15 Certification Revenue Estimate, the Comptroller estimates general-purpose revenue to be $98.9 billion, which would amount to a minimum ESF balance of $4.9 billion.