We've been reporting on Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune's proposed ticket tax for a long time. The last time we updated you, it was to tell you that the movement's supporters were out in full force to get signatures to get the proposal on the March 2012 ballot.

Well, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer, Bengals lawyer, Troy Blackburn, who is also Mike Brown's son-in-law, believes that the ticket tax is a "misguided frolic" and that it would violate the terms of the team's lease with the county.

The proposed ticket tax - Portune is seeking signatures for it now - would be illegal and violate the lease, Blackburn wrote. If it goes through, the Bengals would no longer agree to shrink their request for repairs and upgrades.

The Bengals and Reds requested a combined $23 million over the next few years for repairs to their respective stadiums but the county is only offering $8 million -- $6 million to the Bengals and $2 million to the Reds -- because they're dealing with a $14 million budget deficit in the stadium fund right now.

It sounds as if the Bengals are willing to accept the $6 million offered and that they'll work with the county as it tries to balance the budget, but it also sounds like the Bengals will only be willing to do so if the ticket tax idea is dropped. We'll continue to update you as more information becomes available heading into the 2012 Spring elections.