Now worth less?

Millennium hopes to reduce assessment and taxes in Highland

By ANNEMARIE SCHUETZ
Posted 9/8/20

MONTICELLO, NY — We’re all hurting financially. The Millennium Pipeline says that it’s suffering too.

The company is challenging the tax assessment on its property, known as the …

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Now worth less?

Millennium hopes to reduce assessment and taxes in Highland

Posted

MONTICELLO, NY — We’re all hurting financially. The Millennium Pipeline says that it’s suffering too.

The company is challenging the tax assessment on its property, known as the compressor station, hoping for a significant reduction. Currently, the land is assessed at $86 million. Known as a certiorari, the request for lower assessment and taxes is pending against the Town of Highland, the Eldred School District and Sullivan County, and affects land in the Town of Highland.

At a special meeting of the Sullivan County Legislature on Thursday, chair Rob Doherty introduced a resolution to seek outside counsel along with the town and district, sharing the cost. The Vincelette Law Firm in Albany was chosen, and county attorney Michael McGuire was authorized to execute a retainer for legal services with the firm. 

The pipeline is “asking for a reduction of $56 million in their assessment,” Doherty said. “They’re saying that they’re probably worth 30 million dollars.”

But the tax revenue was a major reason for the county to support the project to begin with. Back in 2007, when the company was seeking to expand its pipeline, the Sullivan County Democrat quoted then-Lumberland supervisor John LiGreci: “The guarantee of more tax revenue is what everyone should recognize.” It would work out to four times as much revenue “than we’re getting from Millennium now.”

The pipeline funnels natural gas from Corning to Ramapo. It runs through Sullivan County for about 50 miles. 

“The Millennium Pipeline—they knew what they were getting themselves into; they knew what their tax assessments were,” said legislator Joe Perrello. “As the owner of property and a business, I pay my fair share of taxes and I want to make sure they pay their fair share of tax. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” 

The resolution passed 8-0, with legislator Nadia Rajsz absent. 

Read more about this story here.

The Millennium Pipeline, tax assessment, lawsuit, Sullivan County, legislature

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