COCHECTON – Millennium Pipeline, the pipeline that transports natural gas through much of New York State and the Northeast, settled in Sullivan County Supreme Court on August 11 with the Town of Cochecton over a petition to reduce the tax assessment.

The changes to the assessment include a reduction of $402,221 on one parcel and a reduction of $1,775,427 on another.

The Town of Cochecton is one of five towns in Sullivan County that the pipeline runs through.

Town officials noted at the town board meeting on Wednesday night that Cochecton has the highest linear footage among the towns.

According to a court notice dated August 6, a resolution has been reached with all of the towns except for the Town of Fremont, for which a resolution is still being negotiated.

Cochecton Town Attorney Robert Smith noted that the settlement did not include a reimbursement to Millennium for the year 2025. The change to the assessment only applies to this year and will continue for three more years until 2029.

Smith said that the change amounts to an annual loss of $20,000 to the town in tax payments.

Cochecton Supervisor Gary Maas said this will be a hit to the town finances.

“We have increases elsewhere in our budget this year,” Maas said. “Most of the towns I’ve talked to [say] it’s not looking like anybody is going to stay in the two percent tax cap. There’s a lot of [costs] going up, and nothing went down. It’s going to be a rough year budget-wise.”

Cochecton as well as the other four towns were represented by Harris Beach Murtha & Cullina.

“We did the best we could,” Maas said of the court proceedings and settlement.