Shaffer decries millions in taxpayer subsidies for Carmel Christkindlmarkt

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Dear Editor:

The Carmel Affiliate Review Committee report you covered (“Carmel continues cutting costs across city accounts,” April 18) was a balanced report highlighting organizational, operational, and fiscal glitches.

The Affiliate’s report detailed numbers that add up to a startling conclusion:

Without booze, the Markt would have lost $1.5 million last year.

Markt financials list $3.4 million in revenues in 2024 of which $1.1 million came from the Markt’s own sales of alcoholic beverages.

Largely overpriced merchandise accounted for $1.7 million in sales.

Markt financials don’t list how much of the $8.5 million in taxpayer subsidies over the last few years went toward 2024 business.

As far as a Christmas treat is concerned, the Markt has become a bag of coal and a lump of switches.

Bill Shaffer
Carmel