Issue Position: Money/Investments

Issue Position

While this question was not asked at the debate, I want to share a few thoughts about Wyoming's investments.

As you know, I have consistently voted to put money into our savings accounts. I believe that savings plan is one of the most important accomplishments of the Wyoming Legislature over the past 10 years, and it will hold the state in a good economic position for years to come. These funds are now producing dividends and interest, some of which rolls back into various accounts, and some of which comes to the general fund for consideration by the legislature.

Here is where Wyoming is with regard to some of those funds:
* Value of the Permanent Mineral Trust Fund: $6.998 billion. (The July report should push that figure past $7 billion.)

* According to the April Revenue Update: sales and use taxes, severance taxes and, according to a recent report from Treasurer Gordon, realized capital gains are running ahead of the forecast.
* Across all funds, $812 million in investment income was produced for FY 2014.

* $482 million of the $812 million will first be deposited into the general fund. But, by action of the Wyoming Legislature in the 2013 and 2014 sessions, roughly $277 million of the $482 million will be deposited into a combination of permanent savings (PWMTF) and intermediate savings (LSRA and PWMTF Reserve Account).

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