Fed increases budget by 11%; blames laws.

WASHINGTON - Saying new banking laws are to blame, the Federal Reserve Board has boosted its annual budget by 11%, to $137 million, for 1993.

"Because of legislative and external pressures, the work load here has expanded pretty dramatically," Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan said at a board meeting last Wednesday.

Staff Growth Continues

The Fed will add 26 employees on top of 87 last year, bringing the Washington headquarters staff to 1,683 - about 10% more than the total five years ago.

The budget adds:

* Ten positions to carry out the Community Reinvestment Act and Home Mortgage Disclosure Act.

* Eight positions to increase research on the derivatives market, as well as economic changes in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.

* Six positions to regulate new payment systems, including same-day cheek presentment and pricing of daylight overdrafts.

The board also approved a 58% increase in its inspector general's budget, to $3 million. This also results largely for news laws, which require reviews of supervision of all failed institutions.

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