Many believe the work should be financed by the 'public purse'. [=should be paid for by the government]
Companies are expected to 'loosen the purse strings' as the economy improves.
School administrators are already 'tightening (the) purse strings'.
(..) You said that a man approached your wife on the passenger side, and the shooter stuck a gun to your head, And when your wife refused to surrender her purse, the shooter then turned his gun and shot your wife in the head, (murmuring) Now, how could that happen and you not sustain any hearing damage? (..)1994 The Glass Shield