News Flash

CITY OF SUN PRAIRIE PLACES REFERENDUM QUESTION ON APRIL BALLOT 

Voters to decide on an increase in the property tax levy to continue providing quality services 

Sun Prairie, WIS. – The Sun Prairie City Council voted Tuesday night to place a referendum question on the Tuesday, April 7, 2026 ballot. Voters will be asked to decide whether they support a $3.95 million increase in the City’s annual property tax levy to maintain the high-quality existing services and programs the community enjoys. Additional funding is also needed to invest in adding staff to key departments in order to improve services – including Police and Fire/Emergency Services.

“The City of Sun Prairie must secure additional funding to address the growing costs of maintaining high-quality services for our residents,” said Mayor Steve Stocker. “Our talented City staff are the backbone of our community services, and additional funding is required to provide the staffing support they need. Without this funding, the City will not be able to continue on with existing service levels. We anticipate cuts to programs, services and staffing will be required should residents choose not to support the referendum come April.”

Over the past decade, demand for essential City Police and Fire/EMS services has increased. Between 2015 and 2024, calls for emergency medical services increased by 107.9%. More recently, the Police Department saw a 13.5% increase in calls from 2020 to 2024 – averaging more than 70 calls for service per day. Current staffing levels are unable to keep up with this increased demand, leading to longer response times, lessened staff availability and a decrease in the overall level of public safety services Sun Prairie residents receive. If approved via referendum, additional funding would be used to hire additional Fire/EMS and Police personnel, improving service delivery and response efficiency.

Additionally, demand for Sun Prairie Public Library services and programs has increased by nearly 75% over the past decade. The library remains open even as renovation and expansion efforts are underway on a project expected to be completed in March 2026 that will double the library’s size. To continue supporting facility operations in a building twice the size and with double the amount of programming, additional funding for a part-time Makerspace Coordinator would help deliver programming to Library visitors.

Rising operating costs add to the City’s funding challenges, as costs for equipment, vehicles and contracts have increased due to inflation. To counteract this and in response to community input, the City has reduced long-term costs by more than $1 million each year, including by eliminating several vacant executive-level positions and adjusting employee benefits. Despite these efforts, without additional funding, the city will not be able to maintain existing service levels or make the investments necessary to improve services.

If City of Sun Prairie voters approve the referendum, the City would be able to institute a one-time, permanent $3,950,000 increase to the property tax levy, beginning with property tax bills issued in December 2026. This translates to a property tax increase of up to $264 for the average single-family home in Sun Prairie.

The formal resolution requesting permission to exceed the state revenue limit will appear as follows on the April 7 ballot: 

Under state law, the increase in the levy of the City of Sun Prairie for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2027, is limited to 5.462%, which results in a levy of $39,792,820. Shall the City of Sun Prairie be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2027, for the purpose of maintaining current services and increasing staffing in the police and fire departments, by a total of 9.926%, which results in a levy of $43,742,820, and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $3,950,000 for each fiscal year going forward?

The City of Sun Prairie will share more information with residents online, through direct mail and by holding public information sessions ahead of the April election. More information will be available on the City’s website in the coming weeks. Visit www.cityofsunprairie.com/fundingsolutions to learn more.

CITY OF SUN PRAIRIE TO HOST FIRST REPAIR CAFE

Attendees and volunteer repairers will fix broken items, share skills & reduce waste

SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. – The City of Sun Prairie is excited to invite the community to its first Repair Cafe on Tuesday, December 9 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm in the Atrium of the Sun Prairie Public Library (1350 Linnerud Dr.). At this free event, residents are encouraged to bring in small appliances, electronics, clothing, bicycles or other household items in need of repair. Volunteer “repairers” will work alongside attendees to troubleshoot and attempt to fix items on the spot. This event will also feature food and refreshments for participants.

Beyond repairs, this event aims to be a celebration of community, creativity and sustainability. “We’re excited to host Sun Prairie’s first Repair Cafe,” said Hannah Best, Sustainability Program Coordinator for the City of Sun Prairie. “By working together to repair items, we can reduce waste by prolonging the lifetime of household items while building skills and connections in our community.”

Attendees are invited to bring one or two broken items for volunteer repairers to work on at the event. While filling out our online registration form is encouraged, walk-ins will also be welcomed. Participants should plan to stay with their item(s) for the duration of the repair attempt, as the Repair Cafe is a hands-on, collaborative experience rather than a drop-off service. Repairs that cannot be completed during the event will not be continued after the event, and while volunteers will make every effort to fix items, repairs are not guaranteed.

A wide variety of items are welcome, including small appliances such as toasters, lamps and coffee makers, along with electronic devices, clothing & other fabrics, small furniture, bicycles and toys. Large appliances, gas-powered equipment and microwave ovens are not eligible for repair as they fall outside the event’s scope. Attendees are encouraged to bring any replacement parts they may have for their item(s) such as a missing button, fuse or cable as this will improve their chances of a successful repair.

SUN PRAIRIE FIRE & LIGHTS PARADE CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER

SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. – the 110^th Annual Fire & Lights Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony previously scheduled for Saturday, November 29 at 5:00 pm has been cancelled due severe winter weather. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 3:00 am on Saturday to 6:00 am on Sunday, and 9-12 inches of snow is expected in our region.

Our priority is the safety of participants, spectators, and staff. With a Winter Storm Warning in effect and expected snowfall rates during the event window, proceeding would create significant travel and safety risks.

To receive snow-related updates from the City of Sun Prairie, visit our website at www.cityofsunprairie.com, follow us on Facebook or sign up to receive text alerts via TextMyGov by texting “SPNOTIFY” to 91896.