financial expenditures

[heide]

Are there any RROrder regarding the following: After a budget [for a non-governmental org] has been approved, is it necessary for a committee to obtain approval [from whom] to expend small amounts [under $1000.00] that have been budgeted?

[hmtcastle]

Are there any RROrder regarding the following: After a budget [for a non-governmental org] has been approved, is it necessary for a committee to obtain approval [from whom] to expend small amounts [under $1000.00] that have been budgeted?

Those details are left to each organization to sort out.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

Are there any RROrder regarding the following:

After a budget [for a non-governmental org] has been approved,

is it necessary for a committee to obtain approval [from whom] to expend small amounts [under $1000.00] that have been budgeted?

The Robert's Rules of Order default answer, is, as always, "Committees have no power, except that power granted to the committees from the proper authorizing source."

So, if your committee wasn't granted authority to spend money, then no money can be spent, BY THAT COMMITTEE.

And, contrari-wise:

If your committee was authorized to spend $N on [X], then THAT is the limit of the committee. -- So many dollars, only. -- Restricted to Project X, and nothing else.

It makes no difference if the money is budgeted for [X], since there is a vast difference between:

(a.) the organization planning to spend $N on Project X, within the fiscal year.

(b.) An individual, or a group of individuals, actually spending money on Project X, today.

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Analogy:

• Dad budgets $1000 for a swimming pool, for early Summer 2011.

• Junior takes Dad's credit card, and spends $99 for a nice wading pool, today, in January 2011. -- A savings of $901 dollars under the family budget.

Q. Did Junior act within the rules? Did Junior do good?

(Answer: No. He wasn't authorized. Even though the boss of the family budgeted a generous amount FOR THAT PURPOSE, and Junior restricted his spending FOR THAT PURPOSE. It's the usurpation of power that violates the rule, not the nobleness of intent and pureness of purpose.)

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