CHAPEL HILL — The Orange County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. tonight, Dec. 11, to consider when to start levying a half-cent sales tax and higher vehicle registration fees for expanded bus service and a planned light rail line.

The meeting will be held at the Southern Human Services Center, 2501 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill.

Voters approved the sales tax increase (a nickel on a $10 purchase) Nov. 6. The money raised from the sales tax, a $7 local vehicle registration fee and an additional $3 regional registration fee will be shared by Triangle Transit, Orange Public Transportation and Chapel Hill Transit. Triangle Transit already charges a $5 registration fee.

The money will help pay the county’s share of a $1.4 billion plan for bus services and a 17.3-mile light-rail line from UNC Hospitals to Durham, among other projects.

Last month, Durham County approved collecting its half-cent sales tax for the project starting April 1.

Grubb: 919-932-8746