Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand ( standing, right) discusses the role of his office with Dave Degner, Traer and Linn Snell, Elberon, during a stop at the Tama Civic Center on Tuesday morning, Oct. 15. CIP/John Speer

State Auditor Rob Sand (D-Des Monies) made a stop at the Tama Civic Center on Tuesday morning, Oct. 15, part of a state-wide Town Hall tour. He offered details of a new Public Innovations and Efficiencies undertaking by his office. He said the goal is offer cities and counties in the state avenues to save money. Sand characterized his office as “the taxpayers watchdog.” By sharing recommendations from his office to government bodies made in audit reports it will enable them to choose whether to adopt the cost saving measures. Addiitonally, he is inviting government entities who have developed thier own cost savings to share their findingd with others through the PIE program. Sand provided details of audit procedures for small towns in answer to questions from Elberon City Council member Linn Snell, who is a candidate for Elberon mayor in November. Snell sought guidance on obtaining audit costs and information on follow-up of audit reports. Sand said his office will begin providing a different format for press releases and reports soon which will detail the issues of an audit report in the introduction. Often, a state audit report requires extensive study to locate the findings. He also told Dave Degner, Traer, the auditor’s office is conducting a compliance study to determine if the Iowa private Medicare system continues ot be cost-effective. Sand said the audit report released prior to his taking office revealed a $115 million savings. Sand said costs now associated with the system may have affected these figures. Degner is a candidate for the Democrat nomination for District 72 State Representative in the June, 2020 primary.