Cole County to prepare budget moves to refund dispensaries nearly $579,000 from marijuana sales tax collections

County staff told commissioners on Feb. 17 that the Missouri Department of Revenue advised the county to refund certain marijuana sales‑tax receipts back to the dispensaries under state statute. Staff said they will prepare budget moves to issue refunds totaling $579,007.16 while leaving approximately $65,006.83 in the marijuana fund.

A staff member explained department guidance: refunds will be handled by dispensaries working with purchasers who request reimbursement from the Department of Revenue and that the county’s budget moves are intended to flow money back to dispensaries consistent with state statute. “They are following state statutes and plan on refunding this money back to the dispensaries based on that state statute,” staff said in the transcript.

Commissioners asked practical questions (how many customers will seek refunds, whether receipts are required); staff said the county does not know the number of purchasers who will request refunds and that dispensaries are not required to proactively refund customers but will work with customers seeking refunds.

Next steps: county staff will prepare the budget moves and return them for formal action in the scheduled time frame (staff noted items will return in 10 days as required for budget adjustments).