We went to $75 this year from $45 in previous years. We knew we needed to raise to accomodate the increase from GL, and we also knew that we could do better to have a little more in the bank. I still think it's a deal. I understand concerns about the costs for people on fixed incomes, like the two students. We don't have any college students in our Lodge, but we have more than a few folks whose sole source of income is social security.
45k may not or may not be all that much depending on that Lodge's individual circumstances. We own our building, so we have to pay a light, gas, & phone every month. Additionally, our building is an older building, we recently replaced some very large air handlers that nearly broke us.