The clerk of the county Circuit Court yesterday announced a proposalto turn over photocopying work in the court house to private industry as a possible cost-cutting move.

Clerk Mary M. Rose said the move would eliminate from the budget $224,000 in maintenance, supplies and employee salaries and benefits needed to operate the "photostat department," which reproduces land records, plats and docket entries for the public. She said it would also eliminate the need to replace orupgrade existing equipment.

Rose said microfilm viewers and printers, photocopying machines and other equipment currently in use in the courthouse originally cost$72,000. She said replacement costs would be higher, but she was unable to provide an estimate.

Under Rose's proposal, the state wouldlease space in the courthouse and share in the private vendor's profits. She said the photostat division collected $129,217 in fees from last July through the end of last month.

The three full-time employees and two temporary positions currently assigned to the division would be transferred to other areas of the courthouse, Rose said.

Rose said she has sent her proposal to the state Administrative Officeof the Courts for approval.