Any rational person would say how does an organization survive on 1988 dollars. But the park service has not been a very good financial partner.”

Aaron Robinson

NARROWSBURG, NY—The council that oversees the partnership managing the 74-mile corridor has been operating since 1988 on the same $300,000 budget.

The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) expressed concern at its December 7 meeting about sustaining the organization on a “shoestring budget.” UDC  hair Aaron Robinson proposed sending a letter to the National Park Service (NPS) and state representatives asking for more money.

Lindsey Kurnath, superintendent of the Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River, strongly objected to the letter as proposed, specifically one part calling out the NPS “for providing no assistance,” and another part saying funding requests have been “repeatedly denied.” 

“I have no record of you making a formal request,” said Kurnath. “I have no record in the National Park Service system of the UDC requesting, formally, federal funding for our process.”

Robinson attempted to interrupt her, but she continued. “It’s okay if it’s your opinion as a private resident of Shohola,” she told him. “I think in your leadership role of the UDC, I have a lot of concerns about what I see as misinformation..”

Kurnath and Robinson talked back and forth about the legitimacy of the claims in the letter.

Robinson raised his voice. “On 1988 dollars we can’t survive,” he said. “We are a lead agency, we need funding, 1988 dollars is ridiculous! Any rational person would say how does an organization survive on 1988 dollars. But the park service has not been a very good financial partner. Now you’re the conduit of these funds, and we’re competing in your budget for funds. I was told that in the past.”

Insulting language to be removed

The UDC has less money than it used to. Robinson believes the council has repeatedly asked for more funding and has been shut down. As a result, he said, the council is forced to provide fewer services. For example, the UDC used to contribute money to local garbage pickup and town contables, making the organization an asset in local communities.

Kurnath readily agreed that greater financial support was needed but had strong feelings against the way the letter was worded. “I’m not disagreeing with your need for funding,” she said. “I’m disagreeing with how you’ve portrayed the park service trying to assist you.”

Andy Boyar originally moved to send the letter. “If the letter is perceived as being insulting language, then we should remove the insulting language from it,” he said after the discussion.

The dollar had an average inflation rate of 2.8 percent per year since 1988, producing a cumulative price increase of 160.08 percent. To keep pace with that rate of inflation, the current UDC budget should be in the area of $780,230. The UDC oversees a partnership of federal, state, and local governments. Timothy Dugan, representing the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said the NPS is not the only party who can provide funding. Neither Pennsylvania nor New York have offered funding to the UDC.

The UDC is competing for money in an NPS budget is also shrinking. Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives cut the National Park Service budget by 13 percent. 

The council agreed to hold off sending the letter until the language could be re-worked and reviewed in a subcommittee meeting.