Residents at Prescott Valley meeting press council to review Chamber funding, warn Amazon petition could deter investment

Several residents used the council’s public‑comment period at the June 12 Prescott Valley Town Council meeting to urge the town to reexamine its financial relationship with the local Chamber of Commerce and to push back against a petition targeting a proposed Amazon facility.

Bruce Evans, a Quillwood Meadows resident, told the council that negative public campaigns could drive businesses away, saying, “if that petition succeeds, I don't think Amazon's gonna wait till November of 20 26. They'll fold their tent and go somewhere else.” He called on the town and local organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, to present a more positive counterargument to what he described as opposition “for opposition's sake.”

Isabel Saracides, a Prescott Valley resident, addressed the town’s tentative budget and questioned payments to the Chamber of Commerce. “Accounting according to the town's financial tool, more than $1,700,000 has been paid out to the Chamber of Commerce in the past years. In addition to that, the town pays them $12,000 monthly,” she said, adding that the town had not explained oversight, required deliverables, or service‑level expectations for that funding. Saracides urged the council to undertake a comprehensive review of the budget, recommending a zero‑based budget for fiscal year 2026–27 and more community outreach to align spending with resident priorities.

A different public commenter criticized the council’s support for Amazon negotiations and questioned town outreach, referencing a Town Hall meeting and the town manager’s remarks about employment opportunities with the company.

Council did not take action during the public‑comment period. The remarks were received for the record; the council’s stated response options are limited to replying to criticism, asking staff to review a matter, or placing an item on a future agenda.