The Milwaukee County Circuit Court System is looking to keep the $2.8 million in fines that has traditionally gone to the Sheriff’s Department, according to the court’s 2009 budget request.

The Sheriff’s Department, on the other hand, does not indicate it has any plan to give up that revenue in its own budget request. Sheriff David Clarke is asking for an $8.5 million property tax levy increase, up 11.6% from the $73.4 million levy for this year’s budget.

The courts are asking for a levy increase of $2 million, up 5.4% from the $36.7 million levy for this year.

Of the fine revenue, the courts budget request says that “In an effort to align with state practices, the Clerk of Courts will collect and receipt fines and county forfeitures. Prior to 2009, these revenues were turned over to the Sheriff’s department. It has been the practice in all other counties of Wisconsin to retain these collections.”