Sun Prairie Proposed Funding Solutions Survey: Results Are In

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 5, 2025
Ashley Manthei
Communications Manager
amanthei@cityofsunprairie.com
(608) 608-0322
 
SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. – During the November 4 City Council meeting, the City of Sun Prairie reviewed the results of a community survey distributed to every City residence in September 2025. The survey was designed to secure community input on City services and help municipal leaders identify the best path forward to address increasing service demands on the City as the community continues to grow.

More than 2,100 residents responded to the survey, and each of the City’s four voting districts were proportionately represented in responses, meaning that results are representative of community perspectives, with a small margin of error of +/- 2.20 percent.

While a $4.5 million increase to the property tax levy to maintain existing services did not receive majority support, survey results did indicate residents' desire to maintain priority services. City Council has directed staff to come back with a revised amount in response to community feedback. This will be considered at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday, December 2 at 5:30 pm.

“We’re grateful to every resident who took the time to complete the survey,” said City Administrator Aaron Oppenheimer. “These results give us valuable insight into what residents prioritize and what level of investment they’re comfortable with. This feedback will guide our discussions and decisions as we chart next steps for the City.”

In April 2025, the City of Sun Prairie released a report outlining the need for additional funding to maintain existing services and invest in improvements across key departments. The report also detailed potential funding mechanisms for the City to explore, including the possibility of an operating referendum. The report cited a growing population, increased demand for services, rising costs to provide service and limited funding resources as factors driving the need for additional investment in staff and services.

The City of Sun Prairie worked with Community Perceptions, an independent Wisconsin-based research firm with expertise in conducting community surveys, to administer the survey and analyze its results.

Additional information about the community’s service and funding needs and the full survey results are available online.
About City of Sun Prairie
Sun Prairie is a vibrant and thriving community located in northeastern Dane County, just east of the City of Madison. The City of Sun Prairie has experienced strong population growth since its incorporation from a village to a city in 1958, undergoing a transformation from a relatively small community of less than 4,000 to an estimated 39,419 today.