All funds collected pursuant to the tax levied on the producer of crude petroleum oil or natural gas produced for sale, transport, storage, profit or for use, from any well or wells in the State of Alabama, as is provided in Section 9-17-25 and Section 9-17-35, shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the General Fund and shall be expended only in the manner provided by appropriation by the Legislature.
Ala. Code § 9-17-31 (1975)