Oak Creek residents deserve a transparent, fair financial future—but Buc-ee’s could undermine that by draining city resources while offering little in return. While city leaders suggest this development will bring economic benefits, the reality is that taxpayers and homeowners will bear the financial strain.
TL;DR
- Infrastructure Costs Will Fall on Taxpayers
- The city has confirmed no funding for road improvements.
- Buc-ee’s has a history of securing tax incentives that reimburse their development expenses while taxpayers absorb the costs.
- Home Values May Decline – The immediate neighborhood contributes over $1M annually in property taxes. If Buc-ee’s leads to depreciation, homeowners—not Buc-ee’s—will be forced to cover the financial gap.
- Resource Drain: Skyrocketing Water & Sewer Usage
- In North Carolina, Buc-ee’s was projected to use 860,000 gallons of water per month—before accounting for its car wash.
- Oak Creek’s water and sewer systems will bear the strain, forcing taxpayers to cover long-term infrastructure costs.
Oak Creek Will Pay While Buc-ee’s Profits
At the January 28th, 2025 Plan Commission meeting, city officials confirmed Buc-ee’s will receive no direct tax incentives—yet Oak Creek also lacks funding to improve infrastructure for the project.
This follows a familiar pattern: in other cities, Buc-ee’s collects sales tax revenue while relying on tax incentives to cover their infrastructure costs—leaving communities on the hook for road improvements, public safety expenses, and water management.
Property Tax Contributions Don’t Justify the Cost
- Target pays $161K in property taxes
- Kohl’s pays $114K in property taxes
- Buc-ee’s would pay around $275K
- Stella & Chewy’s—a light manufacturing site—pays $386K despite occupying a smaller space
A business occupying more land while contributing less in property taxes is a bad deal for Oak Creek residents—especially when it comes with major infrastructure costs.
Water & Sewer Strain: Who Pays?
Buc-ee’s massive footprint includes high-water-consumption facilities, including public restrooms and car washes. In Efland, North Carolina, a Buc-ee’s proposal was denied in part due to projected water usage: 860,000 gallons per month, before factoring in car wash operations.
Oak Creek’s water treatment facilities and sewer systems would bear the burden, leaving local taxpayers to cover long-term maintenance costs.
Public Safety Funding—Another Hidden Expense
Large commercial developments with high traffic volumes require increased police presence and public safety resources. Buc-ee’s will not cover these additional costs, leaving taxpayers footing the bill for city-wide adjustments to traffic control, emergency response, and law enforcement.
Oak Creek Residents Must Come First
Buc-ee’s has stated that 90% of its customers will come from outside Oak Creek. This is not a local business designed to serve our residents—it’s a corporate expansion that financially drains city resources while offering little benefit in return.
Oak Creek deserves responsible development—not a business that leaves taxpayers covering costs Buc-ee’s should pay itself.