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'.
(..) On the day of your daughter's wedding. And I hope that their first child will be a masculine child. I pledge my ever-ending loyalty. - For your daughter's bridal purse. - Thank you, Luca. Most valued friend. Don Corleone, I'm going to leave you now, because I know you're busy. Thank you. No! (..)1972 The Godfather
(..) Take a walk and do your job. Sandra, watch the kids. Don't let them run wild. You watch yourself, all right? , grand. In small bills, cash. In that little silk purse. If this were somebody else's wedding... Sfortunato! Hey, Paulie! I got two gabagool, capocol, and a prosciut. (..)1972 The Godfather