Right off DP tells us that the city pays $1M more to the court than it takes in. Perhaps it's possible that not all the income goes into the general fund, and some is kept by the court for it's own use.
Fifteen years ago the clerk in Boulder was doing precisely that. The commissioners didn't like the price tag on new equipment and didn't budget it. The clerk bought it anyway, with income not paid to the commissioners. In her explanation she said that it was a separate elected office and her own income. She was removed by her own party - after she completed a not well documented huge technology purchase. There was never an audit, as the party wanted it buried.
Judge Theresa Spahn doesn't suffer from political pressure. It's very difficult to investigate or remove a judge. If the Denver courts are mismanaging income, as long as it's not paying for hookers and dope, how serious will it turn out to be? 
O’Brien wants to know. It's his job. Let's watch the fun.