Linn County Auditor Gets Win in Feud With Other County Leaders

Iowa law is now on the side of Linn County's auditor in a dispute over the scope of whom he can audit.

County Auditor Joel Miller and members of the Linn County Board of Supervisors had disagreed that Miller had jurisdiction to investigate the financial records of departments within the county.

After a district court judge ruled with the Supervisors in November, that Miller didn't have authority to audit other county departments without authorization from the supervisors, the Gazette reports a slight change in Iowa Code this past legislative session grants Miller the descetion to audit. 

A stray sentence buried deep in a bill approved without opposition by both houses of the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Terry Branstad this week states that county auditors “have the authority to audit … the financial condition and transactions of all county funds and accounts ….”

Miller told the Gazette he is "ecstatic” and "feeling vindicated" yet “disgusted and disappointed” that it took legislation to decide the matter. 

Linn County Supervisor Brent Oleson, of Marion, told the Gazette it would likely change little, while Supervisor Linda Langston said Miller is not certified auditor.

The relationship between the supervisors has soured amidst the lawsuit and accusations, and last month, Olseon said his relationship with Miller had "gone up in flames."