RALEIGH -- Chapel Hill would be allowed to impose a vehicle-registration tax of as much as $30, $10 more than it could now, under legislation that the N.C. House tentatively approved Monday.

The tax -- if the town were to adopt it in full -- would raise an additional $361,000 next fiscal year, legislative researchers say. Any amount over $15 a year per vehicle could be used only for public transportation.

House members voted 92-18 for the bill, sponsored by Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, a Carrboro Democrat. A final vote could come June 25. The Senate voted 44-0 for the bill two weeks ago.