(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa Auditor of State Rob Sand’s office reports taxpayers are reaping the rewards of a more than 55% increase in participation in 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.

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

The government entities participating in the 2021 PIE program in Cass County, are:

• The Griswold Community School District (CSD)
• City of Lewis
• Countywide Submission (Aud)
• CAM CSD
• City of Cumberland
• Atlantic CSD
• City of Massena

Auditor 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 Auditor 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.” Auditor 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.

For more information on the PIE program, contact Drew Stensland at drew.stensland@aos.iowa.gov.