WITH NEW LEADER, IT IS TIME FOR THOROUGH REFORM AT THE U.N.

With the change in leadership at the United Nations comes renewed hope that reforms in the worldwide organization will at last become a reality. The hoped-for changes in the cumbersome collection of 185 member nations didn't occur under the five-year tenure of Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt.

The lack of any indication of reform led the United States to blackball Boutros-Ghali from a second term as secretary-general. The Egyptian diplomat blamed his inertia on the U.S. resolve to withhold U.N. funding until the changes took place. Conversely, the United States held firm to its position of holding back on its U.N. payments until it sees signs of change.

The new secretary-general, Kofi Annan of Ghana, passed muster with U.S. officials because of his pledge to initiate changes. However, even Annan is concerned about the U.N. financial situation.

Just how low is the organization's pocketbook? One analysis of the situation paints an interesting picture. Much is made of the $1.4 billion the United States owes in back dues. But the fact is that the other member nations together owe more than that for an arrears total of more than $3 billion. It is interesting that the United Nations continues to function and carry out many of its mandates from the international community in spite of the shortfalls.

Might it be, suggests one official in the U.S. State Department, that the U.N. budget has long been overblown? A more realistic budget -- and accompanying lower demands for member payments -- might well be more in line with the amount of funds the United Nations currently receives, minus the past-due payments of its members.

There isn't likely to be any rush to catch up with those payments now that the leadership issue has, at least for the next five years, been resolved. There is little question the United Nations needs a thorough housecleaning. Starting with the top post is nothing less than appropriate.