Cincinnati Bengals officials say they would contribute nearly $4 million under the proposed settlement of a lawsuit filed by fans unhappy with their seats in Paul Brown Stadium.

        The Bengals' contribution is an issue because Hamilton County Commissioner John Dowlin wants to make sure the team antes up as much as taxpayers do.

        County officials have estimated settling the lawsuit could cost the county $3.5 million.

        Two of the three commissioners must approve the settlement. Dowlin is the swing vote between Tom Neyer, who likes the proposal, and Todd Portune, who wants the team to pay more.

        Six fans filed the lawsuit against the county and the team last year, claiming they purchased seat licenses to sit in specific sections of the stadium but got seats in less expensive zones.

        All season ticket holders are now part of the lawsuit.

        Under the proposed settlement:

        • Hamilton County would refund the price difference between the seating zones fans paid for and the zones they were seated in.

        • Fans seated in zones not stated as a preference in their original seat license applications could receive full refunds. About 4,000 fans fall into this category. The county would pay the difference between the two zones; the Bengals would cover the rest.

        • A relocation program would let fans move into the sections they paid for.

        Bengals' attorney W. Stuart Dornette said the team's contribution would break down this way:

        • About $1 million for an initial 1,000 seats to be used in the relocation program.

        • Up to $2.5 million in refunds to fans who want to give up their seat licenses.

        • More than $225,000 in administrative costs.

        Mr. Dornette says that fans who opt to change seats instead of taking a partial refund will reduce the amount the county pays.

        “I don't know where it's going to end up — I've done projections where the Bengals pay more and I've done projections where the county pays more,” Mr. Dornette says. “It could go either way.

        “But the point of the settlement is that we're each paying costs that make sense for us to pay.”

        Fans have until May 1 to return questionnaires stating their wishes.

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