The School Funding Question on Your November Ballot, Explained
TLDR
A statewide amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot would change how much money schools get each year from Minnesota's Permanent School Fund.
Supporters estimate about $30 more per student, and the ballot question says it won't raise income or property taxes.
If you skip the question, it counts as a no.
If it passes, it starts July 1, 2027.
At Monday's District 196 school board meeting in Rosemount, the district spent a big chunk of time on something most people haven't heard of yet. It's a constitutional amendment on this November's ballot about the Permanent School Fund. Communications Director Janet Swiecichowski said when she asks people if they know about it, "overwhelmingly the answer is no, I don't know anything about it." So let's fix that.
Wait, What's the Permanent School Fund?
When Minnesota became a state in 1858, the federal government set aside land to support public schools. That land still makes money today, mostly from things like timber, mining and leases. The money gets invested, and the fund keeps growing.
And it has grown a lot. The fund went from about $675 million in 2010 to about $2.3 billion today.
The catch? The rule for how much schools get each year is written into the Minnesota Constitution. Right now, schools only get the fund's interest and dividends. Advocates say that's about 2.5% of the fund each year, and it hasn't kept up as the fund grew.
What the Amendment Would Change
If voters say yes, the state could pay out up to 4.5% of the fund's value each year. That number would be based on a three-year average, so one bad year in the stock market wouldn't cause a big swing.
Here's the actual ballot question:
"Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to increase the funding going to all school districts from the permanent school fund, which is a fund that supports school districts without raising individual income or property taxes, effective July 1, 2027?"
A few key points:
Every public school district and charter school in Minnesota gets a share. This isn't just a District 196 thing.
The money stays set aside for public schools.
Supporters estimate about $30 more per student per year. The Minnesota School Boards Association says schools got about $68 per student in 2025, and that could rise to about $101. In a FOX 9 story the district played at the meeting, one advocate said, "It's not going to solve anybody's budget crisis, but it's a modest and a welcome increase."
It would take effect July 1, 2027.
Why Skipping It Counts as a No
This is the part that trips people up. In Minnesota, a constitutional amendment needs a "yes" from more than half of everyone who votes in the election. Not just half of the people who answer that question.
So if you vote for governor and leave the amendment blank, you've basically voted no. "A blank vote equals a no vote," Swiecichowski said.
The good news, she said, is the question is on the front of the ballot this year, not the back.
Who's For It (and Who Isn't)
The idea came from a bipartisan task force that recommended it unanimously. It passed the Minnesota House 134-0. The Senate vote was closer at 43-24, with all the "no" votes coming from Republicans, according to Ballotpedia's summary of the amendment. A bipartisan campaign to build awareness launched Sept. 2.
The District 196 board passed a resolution back in June to help spread the word. The district says its goal is for people to understand the question and then decide for themselves. You can get more background from FOX 9's report on the amendment or the Minnesota School Boards Association's Permanent School Fund page.
How This Is Different From a School Levy
If you've been following District 196's property tax levy increase, this is a totally different thing. A levy is money raised from local property taxes. This amendment uses money that's already sitting in a state trust fund.
It's also different from a local school bond, like Lakeville's middle school bond vote. This question goes to every voter in Minnesota at the same time.
The Bottom Line
Whether you're a yes or a no, the most important thing is to actually answer the question. Leaving it blank makes a decision for you. The election is Nov. 3. You can vote early in person, by mail or on Election Day. District 196 has voting info on its website, and you can also check the Dakota County elections page or the Secretary of State's office.
We'll keep covering this as November gets closer. Sign up for the South Metro Scoop newsletter so you don't miss it.
Hero photo: Michele Jokinen / Minnesota House Photography
