Supporting schools without raising existing taxes.
It is no secret that Minnesotans care deeply about our public schools.
It is also no secret that taxpayers want to know their money is being spent wisely.
Fortunately, the proposed Permanent School Fund constitutional amendment is not about asking taxpayers for more. It is about making better use of a resource Minnesota already has.
Many voters will see the words “school fund” on the ballot and assume it involves a tax increase. It does not.
The Permanent School Fund was established when Minnesota became a state in 1858. Revenue generated from school trust lands and investment earnings has supported public education ever since.
Today, the fund has grown to more than $2.3 billion.
The amendment before voters does not raise property taxes. It does not raise income taxes. It does not raise sales taxes. In fact, it does not create any new taxes at all.
Instead, it modernizes the distribution of revenue from an existing trust fund to schools.
A nonpartisan task force studied the issue extensively and concluded that Minnesota’s current constitutional formula no longer reflects modern investment and trust management practices. Their recommendation was unanimous and later received bipartisan support in the Legislature.
For school districts, the amendment represents an opportunity to increase support for students without increasing the burden on taxpayers.
At a time when communities across Minnesota are facing competing financial pressures, opportunities like this are rare.
The proposal enables Minnesota to make better use of an existing educational asset while maintaining the fund’s long-term health.
Whether you are a parent, taxpayer, grandparent, business owner, or community member, this amendment deserves consideration because it reflects a simple principle: if we already have a resource dedicated to supporting students, we should manage it in the smartest and most effective way possible.
That’s exactly what this amendment seeks to do.
Sincerely, Anne M. Oelke Superintendent of the Ely Public School District
