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Senior School Helpers Wanted!
South Kitsap School District is pleased to offer the Senior Tax Exchange Program (STEP) in 2027. This program allows qualifying residents to receive a tax break on their local school tax in exchange for their time and skills helping within the South Kitsap School District.
STEP was created in response to concerns of local citizens who are living on fixed incomes and experiencing rising property taxes. In addition, the program offers more opportunities to increase the contributions of senior citizens in public schools.
To qualify for the program, residents must meet all the following criteria; must be 61 years of age or older; own and reside in their own home within SKSD boundaries; receive Social Security or retirement income; and have a gross household annual income of $65,000 or less.
Participating residents can provide their skills (valued at the current hourly Washington State minimum wage) to schools in the South Kitsap School District, up to $430 but not to exceed the resident’s annual local tax bill. Participants will receive a two-party check payable to themselves and the Kitsap County Treasurer in time for the April and/or October collection deadlines. The minimum time donation is 20 hours between January and June 2027. Please note that space in the program is limited and applicants will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis.
To apply for the Senior Tax Exchange Program or learn more, please call Amy Miller at 360-874-7005 or download an application from the SKSD website at www.skschools.org/volunteer. Click on the “Live in SK menu and then Volunteer. In addition to the STEP program, Kitsap County offers additional tax relief programs and information is available on the Assessor’s website.
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