The city of Salina continued its growth pattern with a 0.6% increase in local sales tax collections for November 2025, reaching $1,370,762.38 compared to $1,362,855.75 in November 2024, according to the Kansas Department of Revenue. Saline County overall demonstrated 2.0% growth, collecting $1,743,250.81, up from $1,708,634.87, marking the region's fifth consecutive month of year-over-year gains, though both jurisdictions experienced unexpected softness during what is typically one of the strongest shopping months of the year.
Salina's $7,906.63 increase in revenue maintains the city's streak of consecutive monthly year-over-year growth, though the modest 0.6% gain represents a significant deceleration from October's robust 6.4% performance.
Comparing Salina and Saline County's results to neighboring areas provides important regional context:
- McPherson rebounded strongly with a 5.0% increase to $295,521.74 from $281,567.43 in November 2024, while McPherson County showed 5.3% growth to $690,926.21.
- Riley County declined 1.9% to $634,745.09 from $647,304.58 in November 2024, performing worse than Salina and Saline County on a year-over-year basis. Manhattan posted minimal 0.9% growth to $2,255,850.59, also trailing Saline County's 2.0% performance.
- Dickinson County posted collections of $371,663.00 in November, with year-over-year comparisons unavailable due to rate changes. The city of Abilene collected $141,877.99.
- Statewide, Kansas recorded solid 2.8% growth in November sales tax collections to $107,055,011.84 from $104,095,145.61, outpacing both Salina's 0.6% and Saline County's 2.0% performance.
Salina's 0.6% growth and Saline County's 2.0% increase both fell short of the statewide 2.8% average for November 2025, representing the area's weakest relative performance in recent months. The modest year-over-year gains, combined with notable month-over-month declines during a typically strong shopping period, suggest that local consumers may have shifted spending patterns.
Despite November's slower-than-expected results, Salina and Saline County maintain solid year-to-date performance with growth of 4.0% and 3.9% respectively through eleven months.
December's performance will be crucial in determining whether November's weakness was an anomaly or signals shifting consumer behavior heading into 2026.
