The University Heights Finance Committee discussed whether to offer a partial discount to first-time property-abatement or grass-cut fines to encourage prompt payment and reduce assessments on property tax rolls.

Councilmember Weiser introduced the item, noting the prior ordinance set a $40 contractor-cut charge plus a $100 fine for a total of $140 in earlier examples. "I thought maybe we should start looking at considering coming up with a discount program that before we go to do the assessments, we take all those one-timers and send them a letter and say, hey, how about if we give you a 10% discount…" Weiser said. Under Weiser’s example a 10–15% one-time discount would reduce typical $140 examples to between $119 and $126.

Committee members and staff raised concerns about operational complexity and perverse incentives: would people delay payment to wait for a discount; could administering discounts increase staff workload; would discounts be consistent and non-discriminatory. Finance staff noted the department already grants a lower fine level for first-time offenders in the ordinance (a $100 fine for first offense vs. $200 for subsequent offenses) and said the city is not currently using an outside contractor for most abatement work; city crews have been performing many cuts, driving per-cut costs higher in some cases.

Finance staff reported that recent in-house cuts have ranged from about $62.68 to $187.60 per cut depending on overtime and extent of overgrowth — figures that can make the earlier $140 examples outdated. Committee members discussed administrative workload if finance had to track first-time offenders for discounts and the potential need to coordinate with the law director and building/housing administration before any change. Several members said they preferred to keep the current approach for now and revisit if the administration recommends changes.

No ordinance change, policy, or vote was adopted. The committee left the item for further consideration; staff and Council members flagged the topic for possible future ordinance review with clearer definitions and administrative procedures.