USA | Iowa Ombudsman Annual Report 2022

The Annual Report about the exercise of the Iowa Office of Ombudsman functions during the 2022 fiscal year is the first report submitted by Iowa’s newly appointed Ombudsman Bernardo Granwehr.

Ombudsman Granwehr takes the opportunity of this report to introduce himself. Raised in West Des Moins, Mr. Granwehr attended the University of Iowa for his undergraduate studies in economics and he received his law degree from Drake University in 2004. He served at the State Auditor’s Office for 14 years as Chief of Staff and Legal Counsel.

Iowa is one of the only two states with an Ombudsman that has the broad authority to investigate both state and local governments (Hawaii being the other one). “The Ombudsman therefore provides a critical link between government agencies and the people they serve,” says Ombudsman Granwehr.

During the fiscal year 2022 – the period covered in the report – the Iowa Office of Ombudsman opened 6,484 cases; a 5% increase from fiscal year 2021 and a 60% increase from fiscal year 2014. However, the office is still handling this higher caseload with the same number of staff it had in fiscal year 2014. Of the total cases, 5,187 were complaints and 639 were requests for information about state or local government agencies within the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction. For more details, please see the full Annual Report in the download section below.

Source: Iowa Office of Ombudsman, USA