messagemedia.co · September 8, 2026
Voting ‘yes’ for Permanent School Fund Amendment is win-win for students, schools | | messagemedia.co
# Voting ‘yes’ for Permanent School Fund Amendment is win-win for students, schools
- Sep 8, 2026 - Sep 8, 2026 Updated 30 mins ago - 0
It’s rare for an important law to pass the Minnesota House 134-0 and be approved by the Minnesota Senate. But that’s what happened this year with a proposed change in Minnesota’s Permanent School Fund. Without increasing property or income taxes, we can send millions of additional dollars to Minnesota’s district, charter public schools, and tribal schools. Sounds too good to be true, right? Fortunately, it’s not.
I strongly support a “yes” vote on this Minnesota State Constitution amendment. Every Minnesota voter can vote this fall. An affirmative vote will allow a slightly higher percentage of funds to be withdrawn from the Permanent School Fund (from about 2.5 to 4.5% of a three-year average of funds in the account). The amendment is based on discussions with financial professionals.
A “yes” vote is especially important. That’s because not voting on this amendment counts as a “no.” For most voters, this means turning the ballot over to vote, since most races will appear on the first page.
The Permanent School Fund was created in 1858 – as Minnesota was becoming a state. It set aside funds generated by the sale of timber and minerals on state land, as well as lease income. The vote this fall slightly increases the percentage of dollars that can be withdrawn from the fund, which now is more than $2 billion. The fund will continue to grow because of revenue and investments. Much more information is available here: https://mnmsba.org/advocacy/permanent-school-fund/
Every Minnesota district and charter public school will receive additional funds if the ballot passes. Money is distributed on a per-pupil formula. The Minnesota School Boards Association has prepared a chart showing how much will be distributed, based on 2025 enrollment.
That chart is found here: https://voteyesmnstudents.org/
Readers of this column know I don’t always agree with groups such as the Minnesota School Boards Association and Minnesota Association of School Administrators. However, in this situation, I strongly support their effort to provide important information to the public about this terrific opportunity. They are joined, by among others, the Minnesota Association of Charter Schools.
It’s encouraging to see legislators of both parties coming together to support something that will benefit young people throughout the state. I hope voters will affirm what legislators have proposed – by voting “YES” on the Permanent School Fund amendment this fall.
Joe Nathan PhD, has been a Minnesota public school educator and PTA president. Reactions welcome, joe@centerforschoolchange.org
Editors, here are some examples of the projected increases that may occur. You may want to insert those that affect your area. In several cases, nearby districts are grouped together (ie Anoka and a nearby charter, Cambridge-Isanti, Faribault, Little Falls, Milaca, and Stillwater)
These examples are approximations based on 2025 enrollment.
Aitkin Public Schools increases from about $67,000 to more than $99,000
Anoka -Hennepin increases from about $2.5 million to about $3.8 million
PACT charter increase from about $72,000 to $106,000
Bloomington increases from about $691 thousand to $1 million
Burnsville increases from $509,000 to more than $755 thousand
Caledonia increase from almost $49,000 to more than $72,000
Cambridge-Isanti increases from almost $339,000 to more than $502,000
Braham goes from about $53,00 to almost $79,000
Rush City goes from about $58,000 to $86,000
Columbia Heights increases from about $245,000 to more than $364,000
Delano increases from about $164,000 to more than $244,000
Eden Prairie increases from about $616,000 to almost $915,000
Edina goes from about $582,000 to $864,000
Elk River Area increases from about $959,000 to $1.4 million
Faribault increases from about $208,000 to $309,000
Northfield increases from almost $262,000 to $388,000
Owatonna from $333,000 to $493,000
Farmington increases from$449,000 to more than $666,000
Forest Lake will go from about $387,000 to more than $574,000
Fridley increases from $176,000 to $261,000
Hopkins increases from $473,000 to $702,000
Lakeville increases from $812,000 to $1.2 million
Little Falls increases from almost $160,000 to more than $237,000
Long Prairie Grey Eagle increases from $68,000 to $101,000
Pierz increases from almost $84,000 to $124,000
Royalton goes from almost $62,000 to almost $92,000
Swanville goes from about $23,000 to about $34,000
Upsala increases from $22,000 to $33,000
Verdale increases from $34,000 to $51,000
Milaca increases from $108,000 to $160,000
Isle increases from $28,000 to $41,000
Onamia from about $37,000 to about $54,000
Minnetonka increases from $769,000 to $1.1 million
Monticello increases from almost $281,000 to almost $417,000
North Branch Area increases from $186,000 to $276,000
Orono increases from $199,000 to $295,000
Osseo increases from $1.4 million to $2 million
Princeton increases from $214,000 to $318,000
Richfield increases from $275,000 to $408,000
Rosemount Apple Valley Eagan goes from $1.9 million to $2.8 million
Spring Lake Park goes from $409,000 to $607,000
St Louis Park goes from $296,000 to $439,000
Stillwater increases from $563,000 to $836,000
New Heights Charter increases from about $7,000 to about $10,000
Waconia increases from about $268,000 to $397,000
Wayzata increases from $852,000 to $1.2 million
Westonka increases from almost $164,000 to $244,000