Community Members Can Earn Money Toward Property Taxes by Volunteering in Schools

The Sun Prairie Area School District offers a program to community members over the age of 55 who want to reduce property taxes and help students do better in school!  The Senior Tax Exchange Program (STEP) allows community members who qualify to receive payment toward their property tax bills in exchange for volunteering in schools helping students. 

STEP was established by the school district in 2004 to increase the number of senior community members volunteering in the schools.  The emphasis of the STEP volunteer program is to provide direct help in the instructional areas of reading and math, while relieving some of the property tax burden on senior community members. Other volunteer opportunities also exist.

To be eligible for the STEP Program, volunteers must be:

• Age 55 or older
• Have a primary residence within the Sun Prairie School District for which he/she pays property taxes
• Has an annual family income of less than $70,000 (as defined by last year's Federal Income Tax Form 1040A, Line 21) of less than $70,000.)

For their time, senior volunteers will receive payment of $6.50 per hour. Program participants may receive payment for a maximum of 66 hours per calendar year for a total of $429.00, which is the most an individual can earn before being subject to Social Security taxes.

If you or someone you know would qualify for this program and would like to earn money toward their property taxes by reading with students or doing other volunteer work in our schools, please contact Robin Harmon in the School District office at 834-6511 or rlharmo@spasd.k12.wi.us at the School District Office. 

STEP Information Packet