Good point, it would be more tax efficient to just keep the money.  I prefer a sales tax though, it collects money from people who come up for the summer and take the money they make away.  I also believe that our subsidies are too generous, when you can make more than 100% of the cost of a dry hole, there is no incentive to spend wisely.  And we aren't getting a return on that investment directly.  If we invest in a well, we should get some of the profit.