Inspector general seeks 10 new staffers from Palm Beach County

County administrator says that might not be financially possible.

Whil e P a l m B e a c h C ount y fought in the courts over how cities would pay for their share of the Office of Inspector General, the office operated at half its staffing level.

Now that the county has abandoned that legal fight after losing on appeal, Inspector General John A. Carey is calling on the county to hire 10 new staffers over the next three years, and cover it from their general budget.

That might not possible, with the count y already stretched, County Administrator Verdenia Baker said last week.

She also said that, while she’d love to get some of the $4.4 million in back pay from cities, she’s braced herself for never seeing it.

In November 2010, a majority of voters in the county, and a majority in every one of the county’s municipalities, approved creating the Office of Inspector General and requiring cities help pay for it.

Soon after, 15 cities sued, arguing the county could not force

Artist Ed Obermeyer, of Virginia Beach, paints in his booth at the 32nd annual Artigras Fine Arts Festival at Abacoa in Jupiter. This is his fourth year showing his art at the festival. Edison Panczak of Jupiter, 16 months old, reaches for a cool...