The phrase "approved the expenditures" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where a decision has been made to authorize spending or financial outlays.
Example: "The board of directors approved the expenditures for the new project during the meeting."
Alternatives: "authorized the spending" or "sanctioned the expenses."
Schieffer said by telephone that he received a request on Sunday for increased security from Sam Fernandez, the general counsel of the team, and quickly approved the expenditure.
The mayor and City Council members approved the expenditure of the first $96 million as part of a four-year capital budget plan, but money for later years would depend on the actions of succeeding city governments, said Gordon J. Davis, the new president of Lincoln Center.
"But what," he said, "if I have to do more than one take?" The studio, chastened, nodded and approved the expenditure -- not realizing that after the first take, the pasture would, of course, be mud, and ignorant, into the bargain, that the fortuitously found location belonged, that's right, to the director.
Nonetheless, the "serious purpose" (namely the bribery) was so obvious to the auditors that they approved the expenditure without official meddling and without even investigating the mystery.
Similarly, the residents of the City of Los Angeles approved the expenditure of a good deal of money towards the building of the Southern Pacific Railroad, which had originally planned to bypass the city.
If approved, voters would be asked to approve the expenditures in November.
Mr. Spano had hoped that the board would move quickly to approve the expenditure, but legislators said they wanted more time to study it.
The "principles" on campaign reform from Mr. Bush were a tired repetition of several unacceptable proposals, including an anti-labor provision requiring union members to approve the expenditure of their dues for political purposes.
Similarly, "the mayor could try to fire someone, but it would be up to the board to approve the expenditure on a hearing officer," as required by civil service law, Mr. Perlin said.
