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State Representative Rick Hansen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-6828
For more information contact: Ted Modrich 651-296-5809
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SCHOOL TRUST LAND PAYMENTS MADE TO LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Rep. Hansen working to inform Minnesotans about valuable school funding resource
(ST. PAUL) – School Trust Land payments were recently made to school districts across the state. Last month, a payment of $42,000 was made from the Permanent School Trust Fund to the South St. Paul Public School District and a payment of $66,000 was paid to the West St. Paul/Mendota Heights/Eagan Public School District. A total of $23 million has been paid statewide this school year.
School Trust Lands play a valuable role in funding public education. The Permanent School Trust Fund sends money to schools without raising taxes. Representative Rick Hansen (DFL – South St. Paul) is hopeful to increase this important school funding source.
“Our schools are struggling and every bit of help that we can provide them in additional funding is welcome," Rep. Hansen said. “The changes we made to the School Trust Lands fund are the types of smart reforms we need to help our students.”
For years, School Trust Lands were a well-kept secret. A 2008 law plugged a long-unnoticed leak in the Permanent School Trust Fund funneling interest earnings into the state’s General Fund rather than directly to school districts. New attention brought to the lands in the last few years has provided significant financial results for local school districts. Due to these payments, school districts are aware that School Trust Lands exist and generate dollars for every public school in the state. “The School Trust Lands exist to provide additional revenue to Minnesota’s schools,” explained State Representative Denise Dittrich (DFL- Champlin) who serves on the Permanent School Fund Advisory Committee.
Because of legislation passed in 2008 that will enhance oversight of the Permanent School Trust Fund, Minnesota school districts have received an additional $28 per student this school year. Payments from the Permanent School Trust Fund to school districts are made in addition to the general education formula.
Management of the School Trust Lands is a topic of much discussion at the State Legislature. More efficient and effective management of the lands can ensure the state is harnessing every dollar possible from the Trust Lands.
“The success of our K-12 education system is essential to our future economic success,” Rep. Hansen added. “While we have not been fairly funding our public schools, the increased funds from the School Trust Lands are a positive step forward. Fundamentally though, we need smart investment, and thoughtful reform now and in the future to ensure our K-12 system is giving the best education to our children.”
More than 2.5 million acres of land and an additional 1 million acres of mineral rights were set aside when Minnesota became a state. Today School Trust Lands are managed by the Minnesota DNR. Revenues earned from those lands are invested by the State Board of Investment and are constitutionally dedicated to be used for schools. Tens of millions of dollars earned on those lands are spent in classrooms every year, in every corner of Minnesota.
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