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State Auditor Rob Sand stops by Keystone Park for a public forum

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State Auditor Rob Sand made a stop by Keystone Park in Elkader as part of his effort to visit all 99 counties and engage with constituents. (Photo by Willis Patenaude)

By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register

 

State Auditor Rob Sand made an appearance in Elkader’s Keystone Park on July 23, as part of his tour across Iowa to visit all 99 counties. The hour-long town hall style event was nicely attended, as he spoke and took questions from members of the community. 

 

Part of the reason behind the state tour and public forums is to connect with constituents, which for Sand is “the heart of democracy,” and he believes all elected officials should give more opportunities for the public to ask questions and get to know the people they serve.   

 

The other part was to highlight some of the things Sand has done as auditor, or what the government has done to help the average Iowan. 

 

One thing in particular Sand spoke about was the recent unanimous decision win versus the Board of Regents in the Iowa Supreme Court. The win was his effort to add accountability to the process of government and to emphasize that there is a “new sheriff in town” who is intent on keeping the system honest. The issue is important because it involves the taxpayers and they have a right to know. 

 

The backstory, according to Sand, revolved around the University of Iowa’s refusal to provide financial details and documents, despite being subpoenaed, regarding their $1.165 billion public-private partnership with a Paris-based collaborative to operate the UI utilities system for the next 50 years. 

 

Sand called it the “biggest loan in state history,” and one the state will be paying for over the next 50 years with compound interest, including a $35 million annual fee. The win, he claimed, was a win for accountability and the taxpayer. 

 

The second issue the state auditor sought to highlight was the Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) Program, which was developed to help the government improve innovation and efficiency in cost savings or operational practices. The idea is for Iowans, especially those in or associated with local government, to find ways to save money and submit those ideas so others can use them. It also serves as a way to create networks of people working toward a single goal. 

 

So far, according to Sand, there have been over 300 participants across all 99 counties, including Clayton County, Guttenberg, McGregor and Postville. 

 

But the public forum wasn’t just simply about Sand promoting his own highlights. It was also an opportunity to discuss other important issues, one of those being the state budget, which currently has a surplus, something he said “is not a good thing this year.” 

 

It’s not a good thing because “our tax base was crushed by the pandemic and thus those that went out of business won’t exist to continue paying taxes in the years and decades to come. The governor and legislature chose short-term talking points over long-term health for our budget and our communities,” he said. 

 

Sand mentioned the loss of 750 restaurants during the pandemic, and this loss of businesses, especially in small communities where they are typically more difficult to replace, creates a loss of revenue and jobs, decreases the tax base and generates less economic activity overall. 

 

In short, he argued the legislature “has not lived up to its responsibility.” That surplus, he said, should’ve been invested back into the state and that failure by the government to invest was a “bad decision.” 

 

Another topic brought up by a city council member in attendance was the issue of the loss of backfill. He labeled it a broken promise because, this year, the legislature decided to stop making up for the money city governments lost when they capped commercial property taxes a decade ago. “The decision was “irresponsible,” Sand added 

 

“I expect that the legislature will take this reduction in funding and then cut taxes in order to take credit for a tax cut, when, in fact, local taxes will go up instead,” he said. 

 

Sand devoted some time to the issue of partisanship, stating that it’s “not any better in Des Moines than in Washington.” He spoke about being an independent, but is now a Democrat. He also spoke about his dislike and distrust of political parties, as they focus too heavily on “sides” and “teams” rather than helping people. 

 

Sand, an affable idealist, supports the system of checks and balances, something partisanship disrupts. He spoke at length about checks and balances as a way to ensure the government is held accountable, that it works for the public and removes bad actors from government. He refused to place blame for the widespread partisanship, only stating that elected officials should “do the right thing for the public rather than try to punish political opponents.” 

 

Furthermore, Sand touched on topics like the Cares Act, government abuse, sexual harassment settlements and advocating for change, accountability and oversight of state government to preserve checks and balances. 

 

Sand is available every Tuesday at 4:45 p.m. on Facebook to answer questions from constituents, give details about upcoming events and provide info on what is happening in government. 

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