State auditor recognizes PIE participants on PI day

Iowa taxpayers are reaping the rewards of a more than 55% increase in participation in Iowa Auditor of State Rob Sand’s Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) program in just its second year.

The increase includes entries from 84 counties, 310 cities, and first-time submissions from 121 school districts.

“I’m thrilled government entities in every Iowa county used this opportunity to save taxpayers money,” said Sand. “Ultimately, the PIE program has the potential to unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in savings for communities across our state.”

Area government entities participating in the 2021 PIE program are:

• Henry County – city of Wayland, city of Westwood and Winfield-Mt. Union Community School District.

• Jefferson County – city of Batavia and Pekin Community School District.

• Washington County – city of Riverside and Washington County EMA.

Sand created the PIE program in 2019 to spark innovative ideas to cut waste and save tax dollars. The PIE program also provides local leaders with tools to collaborate and share their cost-cutting concepts, known as PIE recipes, via the Auditor of State website.

The submissions range from installing solar panels to shutting down computers when not in use.

The PIE program has proven so successful, it is being replicated by Mississippi Auditor of State Shad White, who said his office was “inspired” by Sand’s PIE program.

“The across-the-aisle friendship shows what elected officials should put first: public service, not party,” said Sand. “I’m humbled to share what we started in Iowa, but also excited to in turn copy innovations uncovered in Mississippi.”

Sand will announce the winners of the 2021 PIE awards at a later date and recognize their money-saving achievements by hand-delivering a pie to community leaders.