State Auditor Rob Sand delivered a pie to the leaders of the City of Milo earlier this week, in recognition of their work in the Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) program. Milo was named as the Best Performing Middle Fifth City based on the 2020 census.

Sand tells KNIA News the PIE Program works to encourage government entities to implement cost-cutting measures and innovative ideas to save public funds and use taxpayer dollars as efficiently as possible. Sand also said the program has been used in 84 counties and 310 cities in 2021, in addition to 121 school districts, and is also used in the state of Mississippi.

Cities and counties were awarded points, based on the number of cost-cutting measures implemented in 2021, and in the most improved category, compared to the previous year.