Auditors need to audit

In the June 19 article “New state law: County auditors can audit,” Linn County Supervisor Linda Langston noted that Linn County Auditor Joel Miller is not a “certified auditor.” Since when do you have to be “certified” to verify expenditures? It's not rocket science. Are you (Langston) a “certified” supervisor? What kind of supervisor are you that you do not want financial accountability?

And, Supervisor Brent Oleson commented that if Miller wanted to count “10 ballpoint pens ... knock yourself out.” Both comments suggest ... that we should elect someone who is interested in verifying where the taxpayers money is being spent.

Don't the supervisors have a budget department that prepares the budget? Where does it state that Miller wants to prepare the budget as implied in Langston's comments? It is my understanding that he wants to verify the money spent and approved by the various county departments. Tell me again why this is a bad concept? Who checks the policies and checks and balances? Who checks for fraud? Who checks the various petty cash funds?

Is it time to elect new supervisors who are more concerned about financial accountability? Auditors need to audit, that's just plain common sense.

Don Boland

Cedar Rapids