You may or may not know that every public school student in Minnesota is part of a trust fund. Minnesota owns state public lands that generate revenue from timber, mining, and land leases. That money is placed into a protected investment trust dedicated strictly to supporting public school districts across the state. Due to investment growth, the fund has expanded from $675 million in 2010 to more than $2.3 billion today, but distributions have not kept pace because of outdated constitutional restrictions. This November, Minnesota voters can vote to increase the fund.
What does this ballot question change?
Sends more money to classrooms: Current constitutional rules limit payouts primarily to interest and dividends, restricting how much money reaches schools. The amendment modernizes the formula to increase the annual distribution from 2-2.5% to 4.5% of the fund's total value, significantly increasing payments to all Minnesota public schools.
Zero tax increase: It does not raise property, income, or sales taxes. It uses money already sitting in an existing investment fund.
Bipartisan agreement: The update was unanimously recommended by a nonpartisan task force and received strong bipartisan support in both the Minnesota House and Senate.
What will voters see on the ballot?
Why vote on this question?
Under Minnesota law, a constitutional amendment must receive approval from a majority of all voters. Skipping the question has the exact same mathematical impact as actively voting against it. To support the amendment, you must vote "YES." Leaving the question blank counts as a "NO" vote.
What a "yes" vote means:
A yes vote approves the constitutional amendment and allows the updated distribution formula to take effect beginning in 2027.
What a "no" vote means:
A no vote keeps the current constitutional language and current distribution framework in place.
Additional learning resources
You can learn more about this at www.mnpsfamendment.org.
Watch a video with more information on the Minnesota Permanent School Fund
School Board Elections
Additionally, this November, voters in Independent School District #535 will choose representatives to fill four (4) open seats on the School Board. Voters may select up to four candidates on their ballot. The candidates running in this nonpartisan election are listed below in alphabetical order:
Joe "Joe(Y)" Christenson
Justin M. Cook
Pat "Pot" Farmer
Ana Folpe
Flora Howie
Josh Koestler
Joe LaForge
Jean Marvin
Cathy Nathan
John Peck
More information about each candidate can be found on the Secretary of State’s website: myballotmn.sos.mn.gov.
Voting and Election Information
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.
Early Voting begins October 16.
Absentee Voting began September 18.
For information on when and where you can vote, visit www.olmstedcounty.gov/residents/elections-and-voting or myballotmn.sos.mn.gov.