Carroll County Supervisors Weigh Auditor's Office Move

Proposed relocation to courthouse's lower level raises concerns about accessibility and visibility.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:48pm

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The Carroll County Board of Supervisors is considering moving the Auditor's Office to the courthouse's lower level, citing challenges with early voting and increased absentee ballot processing. However, some supervisors express concerns that the move could create confusion and reduce the office's accessibility and visibility for residents.

Why it matters

The Auditor's Office plays a critical role in elections and is a primary point of contact for the public, so the location of the office is an important consideration for the county. The proposed move aims to better accommodate growing early and absentee voting trends, but it could also impact the office's accessibility and prominence.

The details

Following recent courthouse renovations, the Auditor's Office was moved to the east side of the main entrance, while the supervisors' meeting room was converted into a driver's license station. Auditor Kourtney Payer says these changes have made early voting a challenge, as around 3,200 voters participated via early voting in the November 2025 election, creating congestion on the main level. Payer is suggesting moving the Auditor's Office down one level to the ground floor, which is handicap-accessible and has less foot traffic. However, some supervisors, like District 5's Mark McCrea, are concerned that the move could create more confusion for residents.

  • The Carroll County Board of Supervisors discussed the potential Auditor's Office move at their Monday meeting.
  • District 1 Supervisor Scott Johnson was absent from the meeting, as he was traveling for the Carroll County Growth Partnership's annual advocacy trip to Washington, D.C.

The players

Kourtney Payer

The Carroll County Auditor, who is suggesting the move of the Auditor's Office to the courthouse's lower level to better accommodate early and absentee voting.

Mark McCrea

The District 5 Supervisor, who expresses concerns that moving the Auditor's Office to a different level could create more confusion for residents.

Gene Meiners

The Carroll County Board of Supervisors Chair, who believes the Auditor's Office should be centrally located as one of the primary elected positions in the county.

Scott Johnson

The District 1 Supervisor, who was absent from the meeting as he was traveling for the Carroll County Growth Partnership's annual advocacy trip to Washington, D.C.

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What they’re saying

“Moving the auditor's office across the hall has already created confusion for residents, let alone a whole different level.”

— Mark McCrea, District 5 Supervisor

“The Auditor's Office is one of the primary elected positions in the county, and, with that in mind, I believe it should be centrally located.”

— Gene Meiners, Board Chair

What’s next

The supervisors tabled the discussion at Monday's meeting until all five board members could be a part of the decision.

The takeaway

The proposed relocation of the Carroll County Auditor's Office highlights the need to balance accessibility, visibility, and operational efficiency for this critical county function, especially as voting trends evolve. The supervisors will need to carefully weigh the pros and cons of the move to ensure the best outcome for the community.