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Paynesville board hears briefing on proposed school trust fund amendment; district estimates about $25,000 boost
Summary
The district’s staff told the Paynesville Public School District school board that a proposed Minnesota constitutional amendment would change the permanent school trust fund payout to a per-pupil distribution, which Speaker 2 said would likely add roughly $25,000 to the district’s annual payout; the board agreed only to educate the public about the ballot question.
Speaker 2, identified in the transcript as a staff member, told the Paynesville Public School District school board that a constitutional amendment on the November ballot would change the payout formula for the Minnesota permanent school trust fund and move to a per-pupil distribution.
"The bottom line is it is additional revenue for school districts," Speaker 2 said, adding the change would not raise taxes because the money already exists in the trust fund. Speaker 2 estimated the district received $62,252 from the fund in the referenced fiscal year and said the proposed distribution change would generate approximately an additional $25,000 for the district.
The staff member emphasized the board would not take a position for or against the amendment but would provide educational materials and answer public questions about it. The presentation noted that because the payout model is written into the Minnesota constitution, the change requires a public vote; Speaker 2 warned that leaving the amendment blank counts as a no vote and encouraged voter education.
During questions, Speaker 1 asked whether the change is equal per pupil and whether metro schools would receive more. Speaker 2 confirmed the proposal is a per-pupil distribution: districts with more students would receive more funding. Speaker 2 said staff would follow up with the exact proposed percentages at the next meeting.
Why it matters: Board members were given an explanatory package to share with the public; the change could modestly increase local school revenue with no new taxes, but it depends on statewide voter approval. The discussion closes with staff offering to supply precise payout percentages and to post explanatory materials for residents before the election.
