State Auditor Rob Sand has announced government entities in both Marion and Warren Counties are participating in the Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) Program, which includes entries from 84 Iowa counties, 310 cities, and first-time submissions from 121 school districts across the state.

Government entities participating in Marion County include:
Knoxville CSD
Harvey
Countywide Submission

While entities participating in Warren County include:
Norwalk CSD
Martensdale – St. Marys CSD
Norwalk
Martensdale
Milo
Secondary Roads
New Virginia

Auditor Sand created the PIE program in 2019 to spark innovative ideas to cut
waste and save tax dollars. Sand tells KNIA News he feels that in order for the government to function at its highest level, it needs to be as efficient with taxpayer funds as possible.

“The idea is that we are helping cities, counties, school districts, wring every last piece of value out of every penny the taxpayers pay. I think this is important because there is a civic sense of sacredness around taxpayer money. This is our system of self government, hundreds of years ago people said we don’t need a king, we don’t need a queen, we can do this ourselves, but it requires a certain degree of trust. But if we want to increase that trust and improve that trust, then we need to show, really show, that we are treating those taxes that get paid with as much sacredness as possible.”

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.