Building a Legacy? North Dakota’s Oil and Gas Legacy Fund an Exercise in Public Policy and Political Action

From at least 2006, Western North Dakota experienced an oil boom that resulted in a dramatic increase economic activity, and tax revenue. In response to this boom, Dakota, through constitutional ballot measure, established the Legacy Fund. This fund reserved 30% of monthly revenue collected by state for future use. On July 1, 2017, State Legislature, per provisions creating fund, became able spend interest (as well as some principal, with numerous limitations) from fund. 
 How allocate these funds has become state-wide public finance policy political issue. Governor Burgum others have proposed variety ways use on projects relief. Decisions about long-term purpose how best its earnings increased urgency both availability volatility other revenues. Deciding Fund is fiscal question. Legislators must sort out will be used, who should benefit, or if used all. I explore decisions are made, possible implications those decisions, proposals been put forward, propose framework might made.