Whistleblower wins, house is worth less

Local gadfly Jim Schifrin took on the government – and won.

Schifrin, producer of “The Whistleblower,” a very politically incorrect local gossip publication that assails everyone and everything, was outraged that the value of his home rose about $80,000, causing his taxes to go up.

The appraisal was done, as required by Ohio law, by the office of Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes. Rhodes was a long-time friend of Schifrin and perhaps the biggest source of dirt for Schifrin’s scandal sheet – until Schifrin received his tax bill this year.

Last year, the auditor valued Schifrin’s 2,695-square-foot home on a 1.2 acre wooded lot on Birney lane in Anderson Township at $188,400 – resulting in Schifrin paying property taxes of $3,300.

After the state-mandated re-evaluation, though, the value of Schifrin’s property rose to $265,000 – and his taxes jumped to $4,100 per year.

Schifrin then used “The Whistleblower” to conduct a cyberspace jihad against Rhodes, accusing his former good friend and reliable source of not doing anything to correct what he thought was an obvious over-evaluation.

Rhodes was irate, largely because Rhodes was elected Auditor after Joseph L. DeCoursey was caught in a scandal, accused of lowering valuations – and thus taxes – of friends.

Schifrin used “The Whistleblower” to publish doctored photos of Rhodes that indicate the Auditor needs major dental work and otherwise attacking him and the process.

Schifrin also did what any other property owner can – file an appeal and have his case heard by the Board of Revision, an independent, quasi-judicial body. That three-member board is made up of one appointee each from the offices of the Auditor, Treasurer and County Commission.

That hearing was Thursday afternoon.

Schifrin and his attorney, Chris Finney, presented 75 minutes of evidence – including dozens of pictures of Schifrin’s 48-year-old home – to prove their belief that the home is worth only $160,000.

“This house is quaint. This house has charm,” Schifrin said.

It’s also a pig sty, pictures show, that has had little upkeep:

* The roof leaks and because it hasn’t been repaired, much of the house suffers from water damage.

* The original single-pain windows leak, causing water damage, and are such poor insulators that Schifrin’s power bill averages $450 per month.

* Even with the home’s two central air conditioners operating, Schifrin testified he still has to runs fans throughout the house because the windows are so drafty.

* The 150-foot blacktop driveway has to be completely replaced.

* Much of the house’s pea green carpeting is very old and threadbare.

* Schifrin doesn’t use his front door that is blocked by an overgrowth of ivy.

* The in-ground swimming pool isn’t usable, Schifrin said, because it needs to be retiled and the concrete walkway around it is cracked and sinking.

* A contractor told Schifrin the house needed $90,000 in repairs if he hoped to sell it.

Schifrin, who didn't return Friday calls, bought the house in 1986 for $116,000.

After the hearing, the three Board of Revision members reset the value of Schifrin’s house at $190,000. That will save Schifrin hundreds of dollars per year on his property tax bill.

“This is the way the system is supposed to work,” Rhodes said.

“This show I don’t do favors for friends and I don’t influence the Board (of Revision) in any way. The results are the same for everybody, friend or foe.”

And Rhodes sounds like Schifrin will continue to be a foe, saying Schifrin’s unkempt home didn’t surprise Rhodes.

“That house is a piece of (expletive) but you wouldn’t want to use that as a quote,” Rhodes said.

“If I had my way, the (house) would be set at half a million (dollars).”

Rhodes also suggests a law change: Homeowners who try to sell their property must reveal how much they thought it was worth if they appeal their valuations as Schifrin did.