County commissioners from across the state urged lawmakers Wednesday to approve a proposal that could end a long-running battle about how to split juvenile detention costs.

Commissioners told the House Appropriations Committee they are looking for a "50-50 split" on the disputed costs. But the House budget proposal calls for counties to pick up 57 percent of the costs; the state would pay 43 percent.

Escambia Commissioner Grover Robinson is leading the charge in Tallahassee to get the state to evenly split those costs with the counties. Robinson, who is president of the Florida Association of Counties, said the local governments think 50 percent is fair.

Also, a question remains about county requests to be reimbursed for overcharges in the past. Robinson said counties are open to negotiating with the state on the back payments.

The dispute centers on a 2004 law that requires counties to pay "pre-disposition" costs associated with juveniles waiting for cases to be resolved in court.

The costs can have a big impact on county budgets.

Last fiscal year, Santa Rosa County spent $300,000. County public information officer Joy Tsubooka said this fiscal year there is $885,075 budgeted, a 195 percent increase.

"It fluctuates each year," Tsubooka said. "Our cost in 2011/2012 was $67,953, but then $479, 072 the next year."

The state Department of Juvenile Justice pays the cost of detaining youths whose cases have been decided — known as "post-disposition." But the two sides have been embroiled in a series of legal battles about how to carry out the law, with the counties arguing they have been overcharged.

The 1st District Court of Appeal ruled last year in the counties' favor.

House Justice Appropriations Chairman Larry Metz, R-Yalaha, said Wednesday the proposal for counties to pay 57 percent of the disputed costs is "data driven."

News Service of Florida contributed to this report.