From: Ed Pentz <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2012 04:33:40 -0500

Hi

I agree that the ArXiv team is doing a great job and that the service
is very efficient. However, I sometimes see the ArXiv expenses and
cost per manuscript reported incorrectly with just the direct costs
rather than the total expenses including the indirect costs being
reported. According to the ArXiv Business Model  -

https://confluence.cornell.edu/download/attachments/127116484/arXiv+Business+Model.pdf
-

total expenses for 2013 are estimated at $837,760. I couldn't find an
estimate for 2013 uploads but in 2011 there were 76,578 uploads with
total expenses of $586,833 - about $7 per upload. ArXiv expenses are
expected to increase 43% from 2011 to 2013 and so the cost per upload
may be going up. If all the features are added for "ArXiv-plus" who's
to say the costs wouldn't be much higher?

Regards,

Ed Pentz