Iowa Public Official Bond

If a public official fails to provide the required bond, they may be suspended from office until the bond is given. If the official continues to fail to provide the bond after a reasonable suspension period, this constitutes grounds for removal from office under Iowa law. Bonds must be approved within five days of presentation by the appropriate authority (governor, board of supervisors, or city council).

Most elected and appointed state, county, and city officials who handle public funds must be bonded under Iowa Code Chapter 64. This includes treasurers, clerks, deputy clerks, city managers, administrators, and mayors. However, the governor, lieutenant governor, and city council members (including commissioners and aldermen) are exempt from bonding requirements.

The bond amount varies by position and is determined by the appropriate governing authority. For state officers, the governor sets the amount. For county officers, the board of supervisors determines the amount (e.g., county treasurers must have at least $50,000). For city officials, the city council sets the bond amount based on the official's responsibilities and the amount of public funds they handle.