Shaffer wonders what’s going on with Carmel Christkindlmarkt finances

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Dear Editor:

Carmel’s Christkindlmarkt has spun off a soap opera at best and a financial scandal at worst.

• The chairman of the parent Christkindlmarkt, Inc., resigned and is suing the mayor and the city.
• The chief executive officer and two vice presidents have resigned.
• A city council Affiliate Review Committee is examining market books.
• Ex-city councilman Ron Carter will appear at Monday’s city council meeting to air his grievances about the matter, according to confirmed reports.
• The market has received $8 million to $9 million in taxpayer money since its inception in 2017.

• Some 8,000 hours of city employee labor has been “donated” for setting up, taking down and storing market apparatus.
• In 2023 the market claims it took in $3.4 million in revenue and a $448,123 loss.
• The CEO was paid $287,000 for a 10-month period between April 1, 2024, and Jan. 31, 2025. This figure included a $97,000 bonus.
• All this began when, according to then-council-president Tony Green, city officials requested financial information five times and received nothing back in 2024.

If nether the mayor nor the city council can get accurate financial information about the market, how can we poor taxpayers understand what gives?

Bill Shaffer
Carmel