Amendment 1 is the third thing on your ballot that affects Duluth schools. It’s on the front, in the middle, and it’s easy to miss. 

Here’s what it is, in plain language.

10 things to know about Amendment 1

1. What is the Permanent School Fund?
   Land set aside when Minnesota became a state in 1858. Money earned from it has supported public schools ever since.

2. How big is it?
   More than $2.3 billion. It was about $675 million in 2010.

3. Why isn’t it paying out more?
   Old rules in the state constitution tie the payout to interest and dividends only. Payouts swing from year to year and have lagged behind the fund’s growth.

4. What does Amendment 1 change?
   It sets the payout at 4.5% of the fund’s average value over the previous three years. Think of a steady paycheck from savings, not whatever the market did last year.

5. Does it raise my taxes?
   No! The ballot language says it’s “without raising individual income or property taxes.”

6. What would it mean for Duluth?
   MPR estimates about $280,000 a year for Duluth schools. That’s a real help, but it doesn’t replace Questions 1 and 2.

7. Who benefits?
   Every public school district, charter school and tribal school in Minnesota.

8. When does it start?
   July 1, 2027, if voters approve it.

9. Is it partisan?
   No. It was written by Rep. Spencer Igo (R) and Sen. Mary Kunesh (DFL), and it passed the House 134 to 0.

10. What happens if I skip it?
    A blank answer counts as a No. Find Amendment 1 in the middle of the front of your ballot and mark it.