North Dakota land trusts to produce record distribution to schools, universities

The North Dakota agency responsible for managing state trusts announced Monday, Nov. 9, a record payout is expected during the next budget cycle. The Department of Trust Lands, responsible for managing the Common Schools Trust Fund and 12 other permanent trusts, will distribute $762 million in earnings for the 2027-2029 biennium. The payout will include more than $722 million from the Common Schools Trust Fund, which helps fund K-12 education. That s about 24% higher than the contribution during the 2025-27 budget cycle. These record distributions will provide crucial support for educational institutions and students in classrooms across our great state, from kindergarten to college, Gov. Kelly Armstrong said in a statement. Armstrong chairs the Board of University and School Lands. The Common Schools Trust Fund collects revenue from several sources including oil and gas royalties, surface property rents and the income derived from investing these funds. It was va