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State Representative John Ward
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4333
For more information contact: Ted Modrich 651-296-5809
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SCHOOL TRUST LAND PAYMENTS MADE TO AREA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Rep. Ward 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 more than $94,000 was made from the Permanent School Trust Fund to the Brainerd Public School District and a payment of $20,000 was made to the Crosby-Ironton Public School District. A total of $23 million has been paid this school year, with the Brainerd Public School District receiving $184,000 and the Crosby-Ironton Public School District receiving $40,000 total.
School Trust Lands play a valuable role in funding public education. The Permanent School Trust Fund sends money to schools without raising taxes. Representative John Ward (DFL – Brainerd) is hopeful to increase this important school funding source.
“I have long been a champion of getting our school trust fund dollars to where they are constitutionally supposed to be going: our public school children," Rep. Ward said.
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.
“While we have not been adequately or fairly funding public education, public school trust dollars hold more promise than any other source of money to invest in our children and their education,” Rep. Ward added. “I will continue to sponsor and support legislation to do just that.”
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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