Hamilton County Commissioners recited a laundry list Monday of large projects demanding their attention. The message? The FC Cincinnati Stadium and US Bank Arena upgrades have some serious competition for county funds.

The proposed soccer stadium would put Cincinnati on the map with Major League Soccer. A better arena could bring NCAA tournament play and bigger concerts to the riverfront.

But when it comes to stadiums and funding them with taxes, the commissioners are once-bitten, twice shy.

All three commissioners are wary of repeating the mistakes they say county and city officials made more than 20 years ago, when new stadiums for the Bengals and Reds saddled county taxpayers with huge financial obligations.

"We've all lived to regret that," said Commissioner Todd Portune.

Fellow Commissioner Chris Monzel said building stadiums, including the two the county already owns, shouldn't be the business of county government.

"We have two facilities already," he said. "That's two too many."

The commissioners did not, however, rule out the possibility of helping proponents of a new arena and soccer stadium, even if they don't approve a large public investment. While putting a higher sales tax on the ballot is the most likely way to raise big money, the county and city could pursue more modest measures, such as donating land, granting tax breaks or seeking help from state and federal grants.

Whatever they ultimately decide, the message Monday was clear: There are plenty of demands on county taxpayers already, and plenty of proposals to spend future tax dollars.

In fact, taxpayers are being asked in one way or another for close to $1 billion. Here's the breakdown:

Proposed FC Cincinnati stadium

Proposed cost: $100 million

Reality check: The team's owners are pitching a $200 million project, with $100 million coming from taxpayers. The soccer team is a huge hit in town, but a new stadium is a tough sell for all the reasons commissioners outlined Monday. Voters approved the 0.5 percent sales tax that pays for the Reds and Bengals' stadiums, but the ongoing costs and the Bengals' lease, in particular, have drawn the ire of taxpayers ever since.

US Bank Arena upgrades

Proposed cost: $300 million

Reality check: The loss of the Republican National Convention was a wake-up call for local leaders, but fixing or rebuilding the arena would create the same political and financial challenges as a new soccer stadium. Private investment could cover some of the cost, but $300 million is a lot of money and taxpayers would no doubt be asked to pick up a large chunk of the tab.

Duke Energy Convention Center expansion

Proposed cost: $200-230 million

Reality check: Cleveland, Columbus and Louisville now boast bigger convention centers than Cincinnati, and can therefore attract bigger events and more visitors. Commissioners want those events and visitors. Portune said revenue from the Cincinnati and Sharonville convention centers were one of the few bright spots during the recession. But no one has yet come forward with a plan on how to pay for an expansion of either.

Fort Washington Way Decks

Proposed cost: $80-100 million

Reality check: It's seen by some as a crucial connection between The Banks project on the riverfront and downtown Cincinnati. The decks would allow construction of parks, shops and offices over Fort Washington Way. Commissioners are seeking federal grants to kick-start the project and hope that will lead to enough public and private investment to complete the work. But competition for those grants is fierce, and there's no guarantee federal money alone would be sufficient.

Future costs of Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ballpark

Proposed cost: Unknown

Reality check: This is potentially a big one. The stadiums are well into their second decade now and, in addition to annual maintenance, the leases give the teams the ability to demand a wide range of improvements, ranging from seats to scoreboards. If history is any measure, those won't come cheap.

County Crime Lab

Proposed cost: $50-60 million

Reality check: The crime lab is on track to be built in Blue Ash. Commissioners already have approved a capital budget that included spending on the new facility.

Hamilton County Courthouse and Justice Center (deferred maintenance)

Proposed cost: $200 million

Reality check: The courthouse and Justice Center need some work. Prisoners are being sent to other counties, at taxpayer expense, because the jail is overcrowded. And the century-old courthouse is showing its age. A busted pipe caused a flood there earlier this year that shut down the courthouse and could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs. The county can keep patching them up or seek a long-term fix. The problem, as always, is finding the cash. Voters rejected a tax that would have expanded the jail almost a decade ago.

On top of all these wants and needs, taxpayers in the county and across the region will likely be asked one day to contribute to big projects such as a reconstruction of the Brent Spence Bridge, a new Western Hills Viaduct and the continuing work on The Banks project.