Judge Rules Against Linn Auditor Joel Miller's Attempt to Expand Duties

By Trish Mehaffey, Reporter

Auditor Joel Miller (D) answers a question at the Linn County Auditor Candidate Forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters Linn County at Kirkwood Training and Outreach Center, 3375 Amar Drive, in Marion on Tuesday, October 23, 2012. (Stephen Mally/Freelance)

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By Ellen Kurt

Story Created: Nov 21, 2012 at 2:52 PM CDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2012 at 2:52 PM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Linn County supervisors, not County Auditor Joel Miller, have sole authority to audit the county's books, a district judge ruled this morning.

Miller "does not have explicit authority or implicit authority to conduct audits of other county departments, absent a request by the board of supervisors," Judge Paul Miller wrote in his nine-page decision.

Joel Miller filed suit in February 2010 after supervisors blocked his appointment of a deputy auditor whose duties would have included closer oversight, including audits, of accounts maintained by other county departments. Supervisors argued the annual audit conducted by an accounting firm is sufficient oversight of the county's accounts.

Paul Miller heard the case in late May.

Joel Miller, who was sworn in for a second full term Wednesday morning, said he hasn't yet read the ruling. He said he'd comment after he had.