CINCINNATI — Hamilton County’s new lease with the Cincinnati Bengals could do a lot of good for the region by keeping the team in town for up to 21 years, bringing $470 million in upgrades to Paycor Stadium and requiring the team to pay rent for the first time in years.

But it can’t do any of those things if it isn’t a valid contract.

“In its current form, it would not be enforceable,” said Marc Dann, a former Ohio Attorney General who reviewed the lease at the request of the WCPO 9 I-Team.

Dann said the lease lacks two certifications required by Ohio law for all county contracts exceeding $20,000 in value.

Former Ohio AG finds flaw in new lease between Bengals, Hamilton County

The county prosecutor must certify that the contract “complies with the relevant statutory provisions,” ofte

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