CRO GOVT ADOPTS DRAFT STATE BUDGET FOR 1997

ZAGREB, Nov 14 (Hina) - The Croatian government at Thursday's session adopted a draft state budget for 1997. Government revenues in the next year would amount to a little over 32.6 billion kuna (9.3 billion German marks), which is 5.05 percent more that this year's budgetary revenues. Government expenditures for next year are planned at 35.45 billion kuna, which exceeds the planned revenues by 2.8 billion kuna. As the nominal gross national product is estimated at over 108 billion kuna, the budget deficit share at 2.8 billion kuna is three percent less than the gross national product, which is better than the Maastricht criterion. The basic characteristic of the 1997 budget is consistency towards the fiscal relief of economy, began this year. Out of the budgetary revenues of 32.6 billion kuna, planned tax receipts amount to 29.6 billion kuna (8.4 billion marks). According to information about the expenditures, more significant increase of resources are planned for next year for reconstruction, care for soldiers and homeland war victims, for social welfare and pensioners, as well as for foreign and domestic debt services. (hina) lm jn 142227 MET nov 96