DC Council keeps ‘yoga tax’ in 2015 budget

WASHINGTON (AP) — The D.C. Council has voted to keep a so-called yoga tax as part of the city’s 2015 budget.

The D.C. Council on Tuesday decided to keep in place plans to extend the city’s 5.75 percent sales tax to gym memberships and yoga classes. An amendment that would have stripped the sales tax expansion from the budget failed on a vote of 9 to 4.

Councilmember David Catania, an independent who’s running for mayor, introduced the amendment to take the tax out of the budget. Councilmember Muriel Bowser, the Democratic mayoral nominee, also voted against the tax.

The budget also includes a substantial income tax cut. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson has defended the plan, saying the overall tax burden for Washington residents will decrease.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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