The San Marcos City Council has greenlighted an economic incentive program that could bring a new Buc-ee's travel center to town, complete with a 15-year tax incentive deal. The proposed Buc-ee’s, slated to be constructed along I-35 between San Marcos and Kyle, is anticipated to contribute to the city's coffers with an expected $5.9 million in property taxes and $3.2 million in net sales taxes over the incentive period, according to Texas Public Radio.
Despite some community concerns, notably regarding how the company treats its employees, the council voted to move forward to potentially secure at least 175 full-time jobs at the facility. "You're always going to hear about the negatives and you're very seldom going to hear about the positives," Council Member Mark Gleason asserted in an interview obtained by Texas Public Radio, emphasizing federal regulations designed to adequately ensure worker welfare.
The planned Buc-ee's complex is large-scale, encompassing a 74,000-square-foot facility with 120 gas pumps and up to 175 electric vehicle charging spots, as detailed by Texas Public Radio. It's this scale that the supporters hope will make San Marcos a notable stop along the busy interstate. Stan Beard, a Buc-ee's representative, lauded the site as "a unique place to stop in a city as a museum or a park."
Meanwhile, there's been some pushback to the incentive package. Economist Vance Ginn is quoted by KXAN criticizing the deal. "Just like any other sort of tax exemption or abatement program, it’s picking Buc-ee’s as a winner compared to its competitors in the area. And so that’s not a good idea," he said. Ginn noted that such programs could under certain conditions be seen as being distortive to the principles of free-market capitalism that he believes should not be meddled with.
