Propane Crisis Prompts Oklahoma Dems to Ask Fallin for Relief From Rainy Day Fund
For the 400,000 or so Oklahomans who rely on propane for home heating and food preparation, it’s been a rough few weeks.
Otherwise known as the Constitutional Reserve Fund, the Rainy Day Fund is a mandate of Oklahoma’s Constitution.
Depositing
Money is deposited into the Rainy Day Fund when revenue collections for a fiscal year exceed 100 percent of the state’s official estimate for that fiscal year.
The fund has a cap of 15 percent of the General Revenue Fund estimate for the prior fiscal year.
Withdrawing
If tax revenues are less that what’s been appropriated by the legislature, 3/8 of the Rainy Day Fund can be used for supplemental funding. Another 3/8 can be tapped if the state’s official estimate shows that the following fiscal year will bring in less than the current year.
Another 1/4 is available if the governor and 75 percent of the legislature declare a state of emergency.
In 2011, Oklahoma deposited $219 million into the Rainy Day Fund.
For the 400,000 or so Oklahomans who rely on propane for home heating and food preparation, it’s been a rough few weeks.