Since 2019, cities, counties, and school districts have voluntarily participated in State Auditor Rob Sand’s Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) program. Sand is proud to announce their involvement is leading to more cost-effective and stream-lined municipal governments. In 2022, 488 Iowa entities enrolled in the PIE program, leading to a 0.53-point increase in average efficiency for cities, a 2.74-point increase for counties, and a 2.3-point increase for school districts. Sand says, “No matter how you cut it, Iowa’s taxpayers are getting a bigger piece of the pie. The savings are baked into the innovative, cost-cutting measures being implemented by every participating city, county, and school district.” The program has proven so effective that Republican Mississippi State Auditor Shad White has adopted it for use in his state. Sand recognizes municipal governments annually for their efforts to stretch taxpayer dollars further and personally delivers a pie to those entities. Winners will be announced later this year.
