Carson City is expected to soon raise rates on landfill customers to pay for an expansion of the landfill and improvements to the 212-acre facility.

The proposal, heard Thursday by the board of supervisors, would increase rates on both in-county and out-of-county customers for the first time since 2011.

It's estimated the increased fees would generate roughly $1 million per year, money that would be ultimately used to expand the landfill, which officials said is running low on space.

We're running out of capacity here at our landfill.

"We're not looking to scare anybody, we're just looking to pay for our costs to operate and capital improvements," said Carson City public works operations manager Rick Cooley.

At the rate that trash is deposited there now, Cooley said the landfill would fill up in within 20 years. Instead of going into debt to finance a future landfill expansion, city leaders hope the increased rates will pay for the expansion before it's needed.

Cooley said the public works department also plans to purchase a tipping pad facility, which is where customers can drop off their trash without having to physically go up to the landfill, which officials say can be dangerous.

The Carson City board of supervisors voted Thursday morning to advance the rate increases, but directed city staff to increased the proposed rates more on out-of-county customers and minimize the increases on Carson City residents.

"Whatever we can do, I think, as a board to minimize the amount of increase that has to be experienced from their governmental services, I want to try to do that," said Mayor Lori Bagwell.

Officials said the increase will not affect how much it costs Waste Management to dump residential curbside trash, so curbside customers should not see increased rates as a result.

Once finalized, the proposed rates would still need to be approved twice before taking effect on July 1, 2023.

VIEW the presentation below to see the specific proposed rate increases, which are subject to change:

Email reporter Ben Margiott at bjmargiott@sbgtv.com. Follow @BenMargiott on Twitter and Ben Margiott KRNV on Facebook.