Council Chair Phil Mendelson says the so-called “yoga tax” will likely stay in the budget.

During an appearance on WAMU’s The Politics Hour, Mendelson said the proposal from D.C. Tax Revision Commission to add a 5.75 percent sales tax on fitness providers is not expected to change behavior. “At 5.75 percent,” he said, “we’re just not going to see that people are going to be deterred from health club memberships.”

Gym owners disagree. Aaron Moore, director of operations for health club chain VIDA, said he thinks the tax will discourage people who are on the fence about joining a gym from doing so.

Well-known tax hater is also, unsurprisingly, opposed to the tax.

While sound tax reform often involves expanding the sales tax base, ending credits and deductions, and lowering overall tax rates accordingly – in at least a revenue neutral manner – the Washington, D.C. city council would have better serve taxpayers by eliminating wasteful spending and outdated city programs to pay for income tax relief. Too often politicians engage in tax shifting – hiking taxes on specific industries to pay for broad based income tax relief. Tax shifting is NOT sound tax policy.

He did not provide any specific examples for how to cut spending.

During his radio appearance, Mendelson also pointed out that the tax is part of a broader package that includes cuts for middle-income earners and businesses.