Help Wanted in Interior to Spend Stimulus Funds

The Interior Department intends to hire a stimulus czar to oversee spending of the agency's portion of the $787 billion economic recovery package, raising speculation that other departments will follow suit.

The new position -- which will not be paid with stimulus money -- will likely be the first new job to be created by the department in its efforts to jumpstart the economy.

When asked how much the position would pay, an Interior spokesman told FOXNews.com it had not been decided yet.

The spokesman also said he was unaware of other departments planning to hire stimulus czars. The White House did not return phone calls or an e-mail requesting comment.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar came up with the idea for a czar. He says the agency's $3 billion in stimulus funds will eventually create another 100,000 jobs.

In a meeting with reporters on Friday, Salazar also announced that he was forming a task force of department officials to determine where the stimulus money will go. The funds will cover only a fraction of the $11 billion maintenance backlog at national parks and wildlife refuges.

The Interior spokesman said the czar will ensure that spending of the stimulus funds will be done with transparency and accountability.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.