CARMEL – Unless shoppers are very generous during the Chanukah-Christmas holidays ringing up sales for Putnam merchants, for the first time in more than a decade, the county will not meet its sales tax projection for the year.
The uncertainty of the economy apparently kept consumers in Putnam from making large purchases in November since sales tax receipts for the 30-day period declined by $760,000.
Commissioner of Finance William Carlin presented his monthly sales tax report to members of the county Legislature’s Audit Committee Thursday evening indicating just under $6.1 million was collected in sales tax in November, more than a half million less than the $6.8 million collected in November 2024.
For the first 11 months of 2025, Putnam collected $76.5 million in sales tax dollars, $1.7 million less the amount for the first 11 months of 2024.
Following a dramatic $1.5 million decline in sales tax receipts in July, cash registers were ringing again throughout the month of August and September since sales tax dollars rebounded with $16 million collected an increase of $1.5 million over the August-September 2024 tally.
Putnam has projected $79.3 million collected by year’s end. Last year the county rang up $85.2 million in sales tax.
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