Our club dues are $135. When you figure the land lease and the club has to pay AMA dues also for club insurance. We have a paved runway. taxiway and pit that all require maintenance. There is grass to mow and therefore mowers to maintain. Once or twice a year we have to get the outer areas bush hogged and this past year we coughed up $1400 to have a bull dozer come in and do some work. There are tables and a shelter to maintain as well as a fence. Vandals stole our windsock last year and destroyed all of our signs. This needed to be replaced.
We have a relatively small club and this fairly well eats up our budget. Heck, even a portajohn costs over $800/yr.

Yep, no free lunches here either.