CRO HOUSE OF COUNTIES SUPPORTS DECISION ON TEMPORARY BUDGET

ZAGREB, Nov 11 (Hina) - The Croatian National Parliament House of Counties on Thursday endorsed a draft temporary budget for the period from January 1, 2000 until March 31, 2000, as well as the final bill on the application of this decision. The decision on the temporary budget was explained by deputy Finance Minister Mijo Jukic saying that it would create preconditions for the normal functioning of the state by until a new budget for next year is adopted. The temporary budget is based on an expected economic growth of 3.5 per cent and an inflation of three per cent next year. Budgetary profits in the first three months of next year should be at a level of 25 per cent of this year's, that is, about 12.27 billion kuna (US$1.68 billion), Jukic said. According to him, expenditure for the first three months of next year have been planned at 13.4 billion kuna (US$1.83 bullion), and most part is to be set aside for salaries of public service officials, transfers to funds of the pension and health insurance, necessary completion of the most important investments and foreign debts. The House also supported a draft amendment to the Law on Local Government and Self-Government. Accepting recommendations by the Council of Europe, the amendment regulates the issue of cooperation of units of local self- government with those of other countries. Besides, local self-government and government are being separated, which have until now been unified with the function of county prefect. (hina) lml jn