North Dakota Land Board Announces Record $762 Million in Distributions for 2027-2029 Biennium, Led by $722 Million for Public Schools
The North Dakota Board of University and School Lands (Land Board) announced in Bismarck on November 9 that it will distribute nearly $762 million to trust beneficiaries for the 2027-2029 biennium, a record reflecting strong growth in asset values. Overall distributions to beneficiaries are increasing an average of 23% over the current biennium.
The Land Board, working with the Department of Trust Lands, manages more than 700,000 surface acres, 2.6 million mineral acres, and 13 permanent trusts. The record growth stems from $2.4 billion in oil and gas royalties generated over the last five years from nearly 10,000 wells, along with income from agricultural rents, easements, and a well-diversified $9.5 billion investment portfolio, the governor's office said.
The Common Schools Trust Fund, valued at $9.3 billion as of June 30, 2026, makes up the vast majority of the portfolio. Its 2027-29 distribution will be $722,451,420, up 23.5% from the current biennium distribution of $585 million. Other distributions include North Dakota State University at $10,602,000, the University of North Dakota at $8,380,000, the Youth Correctional Center at $3,900,000, the State College of Science at $3,018,000, the School for the Deaf at $2,790,000, the School for the Blind at $2,344,000, and the State Hospital at $2,252,000.
Gov. Kelly Armstrong chairs the five-member Land Board, which also includes State Superintendent of Public Instruction Levi Bachmeier, State Treasurer Thomas Beadle, Secretary of State Michael Howe and Attorney General Drew Wrigley. 'Responsible management of our state's mineral and land resources continues to produce meaningful benefits for North Dakota's greatest resource - our young people,' Armstrong said.
Trust Lands Commissioner Joseph Heringer said the historic distributions reflect the Land Board's commitment to responsible stewardship and will strengthen educational opportunities across the state.
(Source: Office of the Governor of North Dakota)
Source: Office of the Governor of North Dakota
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于 Bismarck 的北达科他州议会大厦。Farragutful 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The North Dakota State Capitol in Bismarck. Photo by Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
