SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) -- With just a few days to spare,
                  the Senate has approved a 65 billion peso ($3.9 billion) budget for next year, a
                  local newspaper reported Thursday.

                  The senators gave the measure two consecutive readings as a matter of urgency
                  and approved it 23-2 in a Wednesday night meeting, El Siglo newspaper
                  reported. It must still be approved by the lower Chamber of Deputies.

                  If the budget is not approved by legislators by the new year, President Hipolito
                  Mejia has a special fund managed at the president's discretion that he can use in
                  the interim for government affairs.

                  A large portion of the budget, 14.8 billion pesos ($890 million), will go to the
                  Finance Ministry to pay government salaries, debts and other expenses, the
                  newspaper reported.

                  The budget allots 9.8 billion ($590 million) for education, 7.2 billion ($434
                  million) for health and 6.7 billion pesos ($403 million) for next year's special fund
                  for the president, the newspaper said.

                  Mejia plans to send an addendum to the budget that includes non-governmental
                  organizations to share a common fund of 196 million pesos ($11.8 million), El
                  Siglo said.

                  Copyright 2000 The Associated Press.