Parks Feel the Pinch

Push is coming to shove at national parks. AP reports today on a GAO study of 12 of the most-visited parks, whose top officials are singing a refrain that will sound familiar across government:

Park managers at the 12 sites said they couldn't stretch their budgets to cover higher salaries and benefits and utility costs and also comply with orders to spend more on maintenance and maintain law enforcement levels.

To address the issue, the parks are cutting services offered to the public. Interior Department officials insist the parks are getting some of the biggest budget increases in government outside the defense and homeland security realms.