Manchester, Iowa — State Auditor Rob Sand, the only Iowa Democrat who holds a statewide office, says the state-funded Education Savings Accounts for private school students are “a big worry for Iowans.”
During a town hall meeting in Delaware County this week, Sand told residents he’s carefully following the program’s progress, what Republican Governor Kim Reynolds calls one of her greatest achievements.
As he travels the state on his 100-Town-Hall Tour, Sand says this is a topic he’s hearing about frequently, related to his role in serving Iowans as the “taxpayers’ watchdog.”
Over 30 thousand private school students in Iowa have qualified for ESAs this year. When fully implemented, Iowa will be among eight states where all private school students are eligible for state funding to cover tuition and other expenses. Sand says if any Iowans notice something suspicious or have concerns about financial irregularities in their local governments and entities, they can submit a confidential tip to his office online.
Sand made his comments Tuesday in Manchester.
