[girlangler]

"My projections are that our regular monthly expenses for next year will be running in the neighborhood of $22,000 per month, or approximately $264,000 total for the year. This means we will need to raise approximately $66,000 per quarter."

Okay, I'll admit I need to pitch in and send a monthly donation (instead of a one time small donation on occasion). I happen to be addicted to, love to read, and have learned more from this site than all the newspaper subscriptions I've read in my life (that's a lot).

I am just curious though, what the heck is costing $22,000 per month, $264,000 per year running this site? Is it the legal costs from MSM trying to stop it?

I don't want to be flamed. I am just curious. I have recently started updating a website for a friend/client and I know it can require some time/work. I certainly think Jim needs a salary to provide this service to us. But I am curious about the costs.

I'll bet lots of newbies here wonder the same, and so it would be a good thing for this info to be available -- might result in lots more commitment to donate.

[Just another Joe]

Hardware and bandwidth isn't cheap. I know, I work for a telecomm company.
There is also a living wage for the people that keep the site running. And it ain't much but it keeps 'em living.

[EdReform]

The Free Republic Monthly Budget has the current breakdown of most of the expenses.

Also, Jim has posted in many past FReepathons how the money was spent. There are some examples posted here and here.

I hope this helps answer some of your questions.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for deciding to become a money donor.

Ping Jim Rob on this thread re the costs.