By law, all real property in a town must be assessed at a uniform percent of value — but in Riverhead, that figure has fallen to 7.73% of market value, 46 years after the last town-wide update.

Riverhead assessor Laverne Tennenberg explains how property tax exemptions work. About 25% of the property value in the Town of Riverhead is exempt from taxation, shifting the tax burden onto all remaining taxable properties.

Even though it is still summer vacation and school is out, perhaps it is time for a lesson in Assessment 101.