Importance Neither the international guidelines for public finance management, nor the Budget Code of the Russian Federation answer what the link between revenues and specific expenditures is. The article discusses the ways of formation and use of special-purpose revenues. Objectives The objective of the study is to analyze the practical use of earmarked budget revenues and to form the principle of universality (aggregate expenditure coverage) as the principle of the budget law. Methods I applied a method of comparisons and analogies to analyze the practical use of the principle of universality and earmarked budget revenues, and how the practice gets reflected in the legislation. Results Based on the comparative analysis of international experience in statutory regulation of the use of special-purpose budget revenues in OECD countries, I have drafted proposals on amendments to the Russian budget legislation; in particular, revision of Article 35 of the Budget Code of the Russian Federation. If adopted, the proposed amendments to Article 35 of the Budget Code of the Russian Federation will result in the situation when the principle of total (aggregate) budget expenditure coverage will fully comply with the existing Russian practice and international experience, and the use of earmarked revenues will stay consistent with the basic principles of public finance management. Conclusions and Relevance I conclude that the use of earmarked budget revenues may give certain advantages (as compared to the use of general revenues), if it is substantially limited. These findings enabled to formulate proposals on improving the budget law of the Russian Federation.