With the end of his term next year, Scott Turner will be Yellowstone County’s last full-time elected auditor. In the future the position will be melded with that of the County Clerk and Recorder. County Commissioners voted at a public hearing on Tuesday to eliminate the full-time position and place those duties that are necessary by the office, to be performed by the Clerk and Recorder. Jeff Martin is the County’s Clerk and Recorder.
The possibility of making the change has been discussed several times with the county commissioners, in large part at the urging of Turner who recommended the change as a cost savings measure for the county. Only six or seven counties in the state have a stand-alone elected auditor. Many of the duties typically expected of an auditor are done by contracted third party firms, said Turner, who previously was the county’s director of finance.
Under Montana law the county commissioners have the authority to consolidate the position.
