The Denton County Commissioners Court is expected to do its part to help clean up the air with the allocation of nearly $2 million for a vehicle emissions program.

Commissioners will consider approving funds at a regular meeting today to be sent to the North Central Texas Council of Governments for its vehicle emissions compliance program, AirCheckTexas.

The program is designed to help low-income people replace or repair a vehicle that will not meet the state inspection test, said Michael East­land, the council’s executive director. The council administers the funds to keep the counties from having to use their resources in distributing the money.

Counties under the council’s jurisdiction are Collin, Dallas, Denton, Johnson, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Ellis and Kaufman.

A portion of the program is funded by motorists’ inspection fees. This money is then collected by the county, Denton County Judge Mary Horn said. While drivers get their cars inspected year-round, the transfer of funds from the county to the council happens periodically.

From Aug. 18 through Jan. 1, the council received 9,135 applications for vouchers from across the region, said Shannon Stevenson, program manager of AirCheckTexas.

Of those applications, 4,449 replacement vouchers were issued as well as a number of repair vouchers.

“So far, we have had 1,836 actually redeemed,” she said.

If the vouchers are not used after 45 days, they can go to another applicant. Stevenson said she anticipates the program will run through March and possibly into April, depending on the redeeming of vouchers.

“It’s a great program that allows vehicle owners the ability to contribute to our regional air quality solution,” Stevenson said. “We see this as a win-win for anybody, air quality, vehicle owners and for the economy of North Texas.”

BJ LEWIS can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is blewis@dentonrc.com .