2026 Minnesota constitutional amendment

This fall's ballot will include a Minnesota constitutional amendment question on school funding.

This fall, Minnesota voters will consider a constitutional amendment regarding school funding via the Minnesota Permanent School Fund (PSF). This fund was created upon Minnesota’s statehood and set aside federal land for public education. Money from this land comes in the form of mining, timber and leases on approximately 2.5 million acres of school trust land, and currently 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 cannot be spent.

What does the amendment seek to change? The proposed constitutional amendment asks voters whether to update the distribution formula to 4.5% of the fund’s three-year rolling average market value. Passing this measure would not increase state income taxes or local property taxes. For Osseo Area Schools, this proposed formula change is projected to generate an additional $680,000 annually from the PSF.

Why are leaders putting this to Minnesotans for a vote? The proposed amendment was recommended by a non-partisan task force, co-sponsored by members of both major parties, and passed on a bi-partisan basis. 

What types of school expenses does the Minnesota Permanent School Fund pay for? Distributions from the fund support the full range of educational services provided by Minnesota schools, including instructional materials, curriculum development, teacher salaries, extracurricular activities, and the construction and maintenance of school facilities.

Osseo Area Schools, along with many other school districts across the state, is working to inform constituents about the proposed amendment. Please note that under the Minnesota Constitution, a ballot measure requires a majority of all voters casting a ballot in the election to pass; therefore, leaving the question blank has the same mathematical effect as a 'No' vote.

Learn more:

• Main website created by the Minnesota School Boards Association in conjunction with the Association of Metropolitan School Districts, the Minnesota Association of School Administrators, and the Minnesota Rural Education Association
• Minnesota School Boards Association
• Association of Metropolitan School Districts
• Minnesota Office of School Trust Lands

Make a plan to vote:

• Option 1: Vote early between Sept. 18 and Nov. 2 – by mail or in person. To vote early by mail request an early voting ballot via the Secretary of State website. To vote early in person go to either the Hennepin County Government Center or your city’s designated location. Visit these websites for specific information on locations and hours: Hennepin County Government Center, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Corcoran, Dayton, Maple Grove, Osseo, Plymouth and Rogers.
• Option 2: Vote on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. Go to pollfinder.sos.mn.gov to find your election day polling location. Then visit your designated polling location between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Please note school is not in session this day.  

Prepared by Osseo Area Schools. This website has not been created on behalf of any candidate or ballot question.