Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has indicated she is open to discussing the possibility of imposing taxes on services such as gym memberships, digital subscriptions, and dog grooming. In a recent interview, Spanberger stated, 'I think every idea, as long as it’s reasonable and makes some amount of sense, should be discussed,' emphasizing the need to explore new sources of revenue as the economy evolves [1].
This openness comes amid criticism from former President Donald Trump, who accused Spanberger of supporting a range of new taxes, including a food and beverage tax, digital services tax, and utilities tax. Trump claimed these policies were driving people out of Virginia, describing the state as being mismanaged under Spanberger's leadership [1].
The criticisms are linked to several bills introduced in the Virginia state legislature that would extend taxes to services such as storage facilities, counseling, dry cleaning, vehicle repair, website design, data storage, and digital subscription storage. However, these bills were introduced during the tenure of Spanberger’s predecessor, Gov. Glenn Youngkin, and did not reach a vote before the legislative session ended on March 14 [1].
Spanberger clarified that, aside from a bill raising the minimum wage incrementally to $15 an hour by 2028, she has not signed off on any new state-based tax increases. She called Trump’s assertions 'ludicrous' and reiterated that any decision on new taxes would depend on the specific language and details of a proposal. Spanberger also acknowledged the need to revisit tax policy as industries shift, noting, 'You used to buy a DVD; there used to be sales tax. Streaming is different. So, I recognize there’s value in having these conversations' [1].
CONCLUSION
Governor Spanberger has not committed to any new taxes but remains open to discussions about potential revenue sources as Virginia's economy changes. No new service taxes have been enacted under her administration, and any future decisions will depend on the specifics of proposed legislation. The market impact is medium, as the possibility of new taxes on services could affect consumer and business costs if pursued.