Iowa Auditor Rob Sand spoke to a crowd of about ten people in the Greene County Courthouse in Jefferson Thursday as his kick-off to his 99-county tour. He began the town hall meeting talking about a recent unanimous decision by the Iowa Supreme Court that required a list of investors be turned over to the Iowa Auditor’s Office that concerned billions of dollars as he claims is the largest debt deal in the history of the state, with the state’s debt projected to be paid off in 50 years. 

Sand also talked about the new Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) program. He said when governmental entities participate in the program, they will find ways to save money. The cities of Grand Junction and Churdan participated this year. Sand also covered other topics such as spending federal COVID-19 relief money, using the state’s over $1.2 billion in revenues to help Iowans who are still suffering from the pandemic, and providing oversight to the privatization of Medicaid in the state. 

Sand talked about the importance of why he is holding town hall meetings in all 99 counties.

“I actually think of all elected officials in the state, it makes the most sense for the state auditor to do this. Because we have clients in all 99 counties. It might not be the county, but a city, a school district, maybe a 28E agreement. So at the end of the day if we want accountability across the state of Iowa it’s good to have someone out there that stands for it and is easily accessible for Iowans.”      

Sand also stopped at the Guthrie County Courthouse in Guthrie Center on Friday. He was uncertain what his plans would be for the upcoming 2022 general election.