The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Allegheny County Controller Mark Patrick Flaherty has warned the Rooney family that a change in the team’s ownership could result in the state and county asking for the return of its $281 million share of Heinz Field’s construction costs.

“As the financial watchdog for the County, I will not permit a material change in ownership of this regional asset to occur without an equitable repayment of the funds contributed by the taxpayers or [will] require a new agreement with the new owners group that the team must remain in Pittsburgh for the next 75 years,” Flaherty told the paper.

Flaherty cites an article an the lease the team signed with the Sports & Exhibition Authority that states the state and county can seek those funds if the team were to be sold outside the Rooney and McGinley families, even if the new ownership doesn’t plan on relocating the franchise.

In 1998, Forbes assessed the Steelers’ worth at $300 million compared with $929 million last year. Flaherty said taxpayers should be able to reap some of the profits the Rooney family would receive from that increase in value.