The minimum bid price is $1.275 million. Open houses are being held today and tomorrow. The bidding March 30 will take place in the Senator Hearing Room in Courthouse Square. If the building doesn't sell at the auction the county will list the property with a Realtor.

The building, located across High Street from the Marion County Courthouse, once housed the offices of the assessor, tax collector, treasurer, district attorney and other county staff. Save for some non-profit agencies that are receiving free rent, the building has been largely vacant since the county consolidated its offices last year at Courthouse Square. Two non-profit agencies recently moved in for the free rent while decisions are being carried out.

The county is selling the property rather than pay the $1 million it would cost to renovate and lease up the structure. The commissioners are following the lead of county staff, which recommends selling the building outright because it would be too expensive to retain it for future expansion.