The DVC Bookstore continues to try to settle financial problems stemming from a six-digit deficit  after operating five of the last six years at a loss. Still on the table is the possible elimination of the 5 percent discount for students with Associated Students of DVC stickers.

“We’re having discussions at this time about making cuts to the discount,” said Bill Oye, dean of student life.

The 5 percent bookstore discount for faculty was discontinued last semester as a cost-cutting measure.

While exact numbers won’t be compiled until the end of the school year during inventory, Bookstore manager Bill Foster seemed optimistic  about  the store’s financial future. 

“The reports I have seen so far look promising,” he said.

So far, total sales this semester amount to $2.9 million, compared to $3 million for all of the previous semester – even though overall, sales are down 1.5 percent, compared to the same time last semester, Foster said.

To chip away at the debt and produce a larger profit margin, Foster said the store negotiated a better shipping rate with UPS, cut its hourly staff from six people to three and now closes its Peet’s Coffee service at 2 p.m., instead of 7 p.m. 

Chris Leivas, vice president of finance and administration, said budget cuts currently underway across the college may be contributing to the bookstore’s financial problems.

“Since we are reducing our course schedule because the state has lowered the number of classes it will pay for,” Leivas said, “we will probably sell fewer textbooks, and that will reduce our revenues.”

Although a percentage of the bookstore’s profits is supposed to benefit students, the dean of student life said his office has trimmed expenses, because the money has not been forthcoming. 

As a result, Oye’s office has reduced its student workers from 16 to 11, cut back weekly lab hours from 51 to 36 a week and slashed its Peer Support Center hours from 44 to 16.

While the cuts seem large, Oye said they were calculated based on actual student usage of the lab and support program.

“Mondays from 5 to 7 p.m. and pretty much every day from 8 to 9 a.m. have been very low demand times,” he said.

In deciding future cuts, Oye said students are the No. 1 priority. “We’re trying to make sure the average student doesn’t suffer because of a financial problem,” he said.