The Senior Tax Exchange Program (STEP) has been established by the Bremerton School District Board of Directors in response to concerns of local senior citizens who are living on fixed incomes and experiencing rising property taxes. It allows eligible senior residents of Bremerton School District to become volunteers in Bremerton schools in exchange for the local school portion (levy and bond) of their property taxes.
Eligibility
Citizens 62 years of age and older
Primary residence is in the Bremerton School District and taxes are paid on this residence
Annual income is greater than $35,000 and less than $65,000 (Seniors who earn less than $35,000 annually are already eligible to have their property taxes waived by Kitsap County)
Reimbursement
Reimbursement is set at the state minimum wage level of $9.04 per hour up to $600 per calendar year, per qualified property owner.
Compensation is dispersed via a two-party check made out to the participant and the Kitsap County Treasurer twice a year – in the months of April or October. If a Volunteer’s taxes are paid through a mortgage lender, the County Treasurer will endorse the check back to the STEP participant after the county is in receipt of the taxes.
The minimum number of hours to participate in the program is 20.
Timesheets
Timesheets are available at the STEP Volunteer’s school of assignment.
Each STEP Volunteer is responsible for seeing that his/her timesheet is completed including appropriate signatures, and sent to the District Volunteer Coordinator at the District Office by March 1 and October 1.
Checks will be available for the STEP Volunteer to pick up at our District Office. Please contact Connie Long (473-1036) in the Business Office.
Checks should be endorsed and delivered to the Kitsap County Treasurer to pay school portion of property taxes.
The STEP Volunteer is encouraged to make a personal copy of the timesheet prior to turning it in.
An interview may be required by phone or in-person by the Community Relations Department.
If selected, the applicant’s name, skills, and preferred assignment(s) are forwarded to the School Volunteer Coordinator.
The School Volunteer Coordinator meets with the STEP Volunteer to orient them to the building and match them with a staff person in the building.
If a match is not made at the requested building, an alternate building may be identified.
Administration
The Bremerton School District Volunteer Coordinator administers the application process and refers Volunteers to school buildings on a first come, first served basis. She can be reached at 360.620.7291 or by email at joyce.cowdery@bremertonschools.org.
STEP Volunteers do not replace existing staff positions.
Placement of STEP Volunteers in schools is dependent upon suitable tasks being available and staff requests for help.
Participation by citizens in one year does not guarantee their participation in future years.
Funding
Funding for this program comes from the District’s General Fund.
Because an existing department administers STEP, no administrative overhead is charged.
