THE BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 2000

Most analysts believe that the budget for the year 2000

presented by the government is feasible, but many points used to design

the budget depend on negotiations with Congress. "If first impressions

are confirmed, the budget corresponds to reality", says former Central

Bank President Affonso Celso Pastore. According to the Chief Economist

for Citibank, the budget is feasible but not easy to accomplish.

Specialists

say that the government would have to reduce monthly expenses

immediately until the end of the year from R$ 3.5 billion to R$ 2.87

billion, which would correspond to a 20% reduction. "It's quite a tight

budget", said former Minister Maílson da Nóbrega. The main problem is

that state employees' salaries have been raised and an extra R$ 3.1

billion will have to be paid next year.In connection to the budget for year 2000, analysts believe that it