Minnesota Permanent School Fund

Minnesota Voters to Consider Permanent School Fund Constitutional Amendment

This November, Minnesota voters will see a statewide constitutional amendment on their ballots that updates how earnings from the state’s Permanent School Fund are distributed to public schools. If approved, the change will modernize the fund’s payout formula to increase funding for local school districts starting July 1, 2027.

Passing this measure would not increase property, sales or income taxes.

Key Facts for Voters

No Tax Impact

Approving this constitutional amendment will NOT increase property taxes, income taxes, or sales taxes.

ISD194 Impact

If approved, Lakeville Area Schools is projected to see its annual fund distribution increase from $812,052 to $1,205,148—an additional flexible operational funding boost starting July 1, 2027:

+$393,000 / year (~$27.19 per student)

How Voting Works

Under the Minnesota Constitution, a ballot amendment requires a majority of all voters casting a ballot in the election to pass.

Leaving this question blank has the same effect as a "NO" vote.
You will find this question on the back or bottom section of your general election ballot.

Polling Location Notice

Please note: The Lakeville Area Schools District Office is NOT a polling location for the November 3, 2026 General Election.

Please visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Elections & Voting website to find your polling location and access important voting information.

Additional voting information can also be found further down on this webpage.

Take 2 Minutes to Learn about the PSF

Commonly Asked Questions

What exactly is the ‘Permanent School Fund’ and how does it work?

Established when Minnesota’s Constitution was ratified in 1858, the Permanent School Fund is a constitutional trust generated from revenue on 2.5 million acres of school trust land (managed by the DNR through timber harvesting, land leases, and mining). The state invests these revenues, and annual distributions are sent directly to every public, charter, and tribal school district in Minnesota.

Driven by strong investment performance over the last 15 years, the fund’s total value grew from $675 million in FY10 to $2.3 billion in FY25.

About 2-2.5% of the fund’s interest and dividends are paid out to public schools twice per year based on student enrollment. By constitutional design, the principal of the fund cannot be spent.

What does the amendment change?

Why is this on the ballot and why does it matter?

A non-partisan task force of school board members and education leaders across Minnesota urged lawmakers to place the measure on the ballot to provide additional, ongoing revenue to help districts address rising costs, maintain student programs and services, and ease pressure on operating budgets. The proposed amendment had strong bi-partisan support.

Every public school district across the state benefits. They will have money sent directly to them with no strings attached.
The proposed amendment is based on recommendations from a multi-year review of existing fund structure in order to update the fund with current financial best practices.
The proposed constitutional amendment will almost double per-pupil payout to school districts without raising any existing taxes for Minnesota residents.
If passed, the amendment will better support today’s students while ensuring the fund’s balance is preserved for future generations.

Having trouble loading this video? Click here to watch on YouTube.

What types of school expenses does the Minnesota Permanent School Fund pay for?

What are the School Trust Public Lands?

Make a Plan to Vote

Under Minnesota law, constitutional amendments require approval from a majority of all voters participating in the election. A ballot left blank on the amendment is counted as a “no” vote.