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Friday, July 14, 2006

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.


7 Comments:

at 7:24 PM, July 14, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Schifrin's such a fat slob. I wish he, Finny, and Brinkman on man would stop worrying about a few measely pennies. Steve Fritsch had to quit politics and he thinks it's because of his party. I think its just beacuse of the hags he surrounds himself with. But Steve forgot the #1 rule: There is no crying in politics. You win and keep winning. Boys, this world could be a lot worse off, how about we be thankful for what our party has given us and not whine about how it could be perfect.

 
at 8:01 PM, July 14, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

i think rhodes did a good job on re-evaluations. it was fair, more, but fair - very close to market value.
i think houses that sell for more than a certain percentage above the valuation amount, should be penalized if they coerce the board of revisions into lowering the vlaue of their homes.
i think most people are being cheap skates.

 
at 8:47 AM, July 15, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

So nice to know that Schifrin is a pig who lives in utter squalor... He had no credibility yesterday... Now that we know that he is a swine living in his own dirt, hey, what he thinks and writes takes on even more importance, eh?

Does anyone get embarrassed anymore??

 
at 10:52 AM, July 15, 2006 Blogger natenoy said...

I just posted a lengthy blog http://thetruthinoh2cd.blogspot.com/ as a response to this article.

 
at 1:08 AM, July 16, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

This fat slob needs a lesson in how the world works. Dusty is nothing if not honest. Just because this guy let's his place turn to shit doesn't mean he deserves a break on his taxes. His house ought to be blighted, and his neighbors ought to kick his ass to the curb.

 
at 11:13 PM, July 16, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

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

Lobbyist and ex-con Dick Weiland (federal prison and lifetime loss of the right to practice law for life for HUD fraud) was at the center of the frauds in the DeCourcy scandal. Here are a couple articles from the time which describe Weiland's role as essentially running the auditor's office from behind the scenes and getting property undervaluations for his rich "clients, meanwhile collecting hefty fees for his services.

Now another county financial scandal is brewing at Jobs and Family Services, with up to $1 billion of federal funds unaccounted for. The Enquirer hasn't reported the most recent developments, but the Columbus Dispatch has.

According to the Enquirer, Neil Tilow, director of Talbert House has been interviewed by investigators.

Has Dick Weiland, longtime Talbert House board member and fundraiser, also been interviewed?

Weiland has been an advisor and fundraiser for both Phil Heimlich (nice pic here.) and Pat DeWine. Perhaps the two commissioners can shed some light on the missing HCJFS loot, but it appears Enquirer reporters are waiting for an engraved invitation before asking any questions.

 
at 11:48 PM, July 18, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

isn't it nice that the enq blog is posting comments timely. i guess they forgot they were running this political blog to appease for their lack of reporting onpaper.

 
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