Greater Prescott Communities Get $12.3 Million in CARES Act Funding

Yavapai County and its cities are deciding how to spend population-based funding they’re receiving from the federal CARES Act, which includes a total $2 trillion in relief payments to individuals, businesses and local governments to soften the blow of the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. Doug Ducey announced the release of almost $600 million to local governments on May 27.

Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli said at the time: “Throughout the COVID-19 public health crisis, Governor Ducey has acted with steady leadership and great concern for the people of Prescott and all of rural Arizona. I want to thank Governor Ducey for prioritizing the health and safety of everyone in our community.”

The news arrived while the local jurisdictions were putting together their budgets for the next fiscal year.

“As we just received news last week from the Governor’s office regarding the amount of funding the Town of Chino Valley might receive, we haven’t had a discussion with our Council of how it will be allocated,” Town Manager Cecilia Guzman said. A vote will probably come within the next couple of months, she added.

Yavapai County Administrator Phil Bourdon said, “We are currently going through a very difficult budget process, as many other jurisdictions are during this uncertain time, and the Board of Supervisors will discuss the use of their allocated funds during their budget discussion in June.”

Prescott Valley Deputy Town Manager Ryan Judy has said its cares funding will go toward public safety, Town spokeswoman Heidi Dahms Foster said.

Maricopa and Pima counties and their cities got their CARES funding directly from the federal level, but the 13 smaller counties had to wait for the state to release their portion. Pinal County filed a lawsuit seeking its share from the state about a week before Ducey’s announcement.