The Holmes Student Center needs money.

One area in the student center, the University Bookstore, makes a “significant” profit and the center’s reserves are being depleted.

A Student Center Financial Profile states as of June 30, the repair and replacement reserve deficit will be at $226,500. By the end of 1991, the deficit is expected to have increased to $619,500, according to the profile.

NIU President John La Tourette said the reserves are needed for emergency situations, such as replacing the sound system in the Duke Ellington Ballroom, which is as old as the student center. If it broke down, it would cost a couple hundred thousand dollars, he said.

A fire alarm system to be installed at the student center costing about $500,000 is the main reason for the increased deficit.

As one possible solution, vendor-controlled operations might be used to provide more income for the student center. “One thing that we have to do is pay off the funds borrowed internally to reclad the student center,” La Tourette said.

However, he said this year’s student fees will cover that cost, “so there’s no problem there.”

Students’ pay $6.02 per credit hour for the center as a part of student fees this year and last year’s fee was $5.12 per credit hour.

“In a sense the student center mission is to support the university and the deans, students, staff and faculty,” La Tourette said.

“On the other hand there are no reserves available for the student center,” La Tourette said.

The number of services that are “surplus generating” are limited, he said. The market controls the prices in the bookstore, higher prices would lead to less business, he said.

As another option, NIU might include a fast food operation, in the proposed student life center addition to the student center, he said. The money gained from the fast food operation could help pay for the cost of the life center as well as the student center, he said.

However, a former fast food operation at the student center, Roy Rogers, cost the university money.

James Harder, vice president of Business and Operations, said, the franchise did not meet the expectations of the students and faculty for a number of reasons, such as, the price and variety of foods.

As a result, the situation “must be evaluated very, very carefully,” Harder said. NIU has to try to enhance revenues and reduce cost, he said.