The city of Sun Prairie in Wisconsin is Madison’s most populous suburb. Like many fast-growing Midwestern communities, Sun Prairie’s fire and EMS services face mounting funding pressures. Between 2015 and 2024, emergency medical calls increased by 107.9%, while funding remained largely unchanged.
In response, the City Council placed a $3.95 million tax levy referendum on the April 7, 2026, ballot to address operational shortfalls in public safety services.
What the April 2026 Referendum Proposes
The referendum asks voters to authorize a permanent $3.95 million annual increase to the city’s tax levy, raising it from $39,792,820 (the state-limited 5.5% increase) to $43,742,820 (a 9.9% increase).
Funds are earmarked to maintain current service levels and expand police and fire department staffing. If approved, the average single-family homeowner would see property taxes increase by approximately $264 annually, beginning with December 2026 tax bills.
Why the Referendum Was Put Forward
Over the past two years, Sun Prairie’s Fire Department has faced ever-deepening operational challenges, which have driven the funding request. Fire responses have tripled over the past decade, while EMS calls increased by more than 100%.
The 2023 closure of a local emergency room added 40 minutes to ambulance call times as crews travel farther to drop off patients. Rising costs for vehicles, contracts, and equipment due to inflation further strained budgets, and by December 2025, the department was forced to discontinue service to the Marshall area due to financial constraints.
Mayor Steve Stocker emphasized that without funding, cuts to programs, services, and staffing would be required. The city has already reduced long-term costs by over $1 million annually through eliminating vacant executive positions and adjusting benefits. However, these savings are insufficient to fund the facilities and equipment the Fire Department requires.
What Voters Will Decide in April
On April 7, voters will determine whether to exceed state-imposed levy limits. Officials argue the funding is necessary to hire additional first responders and improve service delivery. As of early March 2026, no organized opposition campaign had been formally registered. The city committed to holding seven public town halls across all four aldermanic districts between mid-February and mid-March 2026 to inform residents before they vote.
What Approval or Rejection Would Mean for Fire and EMS Services
If approved, the Sun Prairie Fire Department would be better equipped to manage an increased call volume and maintain response times. With current stations at capacity, department officials have indicated that a third fire station may be necessary if current growth trends continue. Recent disasters, such as the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, have underscored how quickly emergency systems can be stretched when staffing and infrastructure do not keep pace with growth.
Rejection would lead to further cuts in programs, services, and staffing. This could result in longer response times, reduced staffing per shift, and limited capacity to manage simultaneous emergencies.
How This Vote Fits into Broader Wisconsin Trends
Sun Prairie’s referendum reflects a broader Wisconsin trend of municipalities seeking voter approval to fund essential services due to state-imposed levy limits.
Wisconsin’s levy limit law restricts annual increases to net new construction growth, making it difficult to address rising costs without referendums. Fire and EMS departments across the state increasingly rely on direct voter authorization, creating uncertainty for long-term planning and requiring departments to present operational funding needs directly to voters through referendums.
While Sun Prairie’s referendum focuses on operational funding, other states have recently addressed firefighter sustainability through policy reforms. For example, Virginia expanded presumptive cancer coverage in 2025 after a long legislative effort, demonstrating how states are addressing firefighter health protections while facing funding challenges.
Lessons for Fire and EMS Advocates
Sun Prairie’s approach offers key lessons for referendum campaigns. First, concrete data and specific metrics (such as a 107.9% increase in EMS calls or 40 minutes added per transport) should be put at the forefront of communication efforts, rather than abstract appeals.
Second, to gain voter trust, departments need to demonstrate fiscal responsibility by documenting cost reductions before requesting additional revenue. This needs to go hand in hand with transparency through multiple town halls and ongoing updates. Finally, it’s important to engage residents early and assess community priorities before finalizing the referendum amount.
Final Thoughts
On April 7, 2026, Sun Prairie voters will decide whether to authorize a permanent $3.95 million levy increase supporting police, fire, and EMS operations. The vote will determine whether the city can hire additional personnel and maintain response times, or whether staffing reductions and service limitations become necessary.
Beyond Sun Prairie, the outcome will signal how communities balance fiscal constraints with public safety needs when state levy limits force essential services onto the ballot. The experience underscores the importance of informed voter engagement in shaping local emergency service readiness.
As communities nationwide look ahead to 2026, staffing sustainability, funding stability, and long-term readiness remain central issues shaping fire and EMS policy discussions.
