Insufficient funding of national parks could hurt tourism in Montana's gateway communities and the state's economy, an official with the National Parks Conservation Association said.

The association released its annual report saying America's national parks have an annual deficit of more than $600 million, with a $5 billion to $10 billion backlog of needed repairs.

Yellowstone National Park's maintenance backlog is estimated at $22 million, while Glacier National Park has a $400 million backlog in deferred maintenance and investments, the association said.

The report says Glacier and Yellowstone national parks attract more than 60 percent of summer visitors to the state, and visitors to the two national parks spend $226 million in the gateway communities each year.

"For too long these great assets that reside in Montana have been somewhat taken for granted and not recognized for how they contribute to economies," said Tony Jewett, the association's senior director for the Northern Rockies regional office. "This report can shine the spotlight on what Glacier and Yellowstone bring economically and culturally to gateway communities."

The report is part of the National Parks Conservation Association's effort to get Congress to increase spending in national parks.

Susie Burch, owner of Glacier Park Boat Co., said she's worried that the maintenance backlog will, over the long term, detract from the "richness of the experience" of visiting a national park.

"I think little by little we're chipping away at it," Burch said. "That's not a criticism of Glacier National Park _ the budget realities are what they are."

Burch noted that for years, relatively inexpensive repairs to the Going-to-the-Sun Road went unfunded, and now the road is undergoing major repairs at a cost of $150 million.

Other results of the funding shortage mean Glacier National Park has no fisheries biologist on staff, despite a 90 percent decline in bull trout populations. And Yellowstone, which has 121 geothermal features, has just one geologist. Maintenance and repairs are delayed, there are fewer naturalist programs and fewer crews to maintain trails, the group said.

Its report says the parks have an even longer term benefit to the state's economy _ some park visitors end up liking the area so much, they move to Montana.

"Tourism is important," said Steve Caldwell, a former investment banker who moved to Livingston, "but this area's economy benefits in more pervasive and durable ways by attracting full time residents."

Doctors often cite Montana's beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities as reasons to practice in the state.

"We have the ability to attract and retain an outstanding medical staff because this is such a nice place to live," said Velinda Stevens, CEO at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. "And you know those things that make it a nice place to life _ clean air, water quality, Glacier National Park, the wildlife."