The Daily Inter Lake

The National Park Service and Glacier National Park would get funding increases of nearly 15 percent under President Bush's 2008 budget that was released on Monday.

The National Parks Conservation Association hailed the "unprecedented" funding increase of $258 million for the park system, as well as pledges for future spending increases associated with the administration's "Centennial Challenge," an initiative that coincides with the 100-year anniversary of the park service.

"The park system has gone through decades of underfunding and this is the single largest increase in decades," said Tony Jewett, operations director for the association's Northern Rockies Office. "It's a very significant first step that demonstrates that this administration sees national parks as a priority."

The budget allots $2.4 billion for the National Park Service for 2008.

The national parks system now operates with a shortfall that has been estimated at $800 million annually.

Glacier's estimated operating shortfall is $7 million annually, along with a maintenance backlog estimated at $280 million.

The Bush administration's proposed budget calls for $13.8 million for Glacier operations - a $1.8 million, 15-percent increase over 2006 funding of $12 million. By comparison, Yellowstone National Park is slated for a 10 percent funding increase.

Jewett said the funding increase, if approved by Congress, should translate to a noticeable improvement in staffing and basic operations at Glacier, a park that has had static funding for several years.

Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne's Centennial Challenge initiative includes a plan to provide up $100 million each year leading up to the 2016 National Park Service Centennial that would be used to match donations from private organizations that support parks.

The administration's proposals were not entirely well received.

The Associated Press reported that Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., called the match funding program "an illusion conjured by this administration."

Rahall maintained that national parks funding is a "national responsibility" that shouldn't be shifted to private organizations.

Jewett said the National Parks Conservation Association supports the match funding program.

"It's absolutely a legitimate and important part of maintaining excellence in national parks," he said. "But it's not a substitute for core duties of the federal government."

The Interior Department is projecting that the nationwide funding increase will translate to 3,000 additional seasonal employees, including 1,000 for interpretation, 1,000 for maintenance and 1,000 for resource protection.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com