Legal Definitions - specific appropriation

A specific appropriation is a legislative act that allocates a precise amount of public funds for a clearly defined and particular purpose. This ensures government money is spent exactly as intended by law, rather than for a broad category of expenses.

A specific appropriation refers to a legislative act that sets aside a precise amount of public money for a very particular and clearly defined purpose. Unlike a general fund or a broad allocation, a specific appropriation designates funds for an exact project, program, or item, often with detailed instructions on how the money is to be spent.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Infrastructure Project

  Imagine a state legislature passes a bill that allocates $50 million specifically for the construction of a new bypass road around the city of Springfield, including funds for land acquisition, engineering, and construction materials. This is a specific appropriation because the funds are earmarked for one particular road project, rather than being part of a larger, general transportation budget that could be used for various road repairs or public transit initiatives.

• Example 2: Public Health Initiative

  A national congress approves a budget item of $200 million to fund a nationwide campaign to eradicate a specific mosquito-borne illness, including money for public awareness, pesticide distribution in affected areas, and research into new prevention methods. This represents a specific appropriation because the funds are precisely directed towards a single health goal and its associated activities, rather than being a general allocation to the broader public health department for various unspecified programs.

• Example 3: Educational Equipment Purchase

  A city council votes to approve $75,000 for the purchase and installation of new interactive whiteboards and computer workstations for the science laboratories at Northwood High School. This is a specific appropriation because the money is designated for particular educational equipment for a single school's science department, rather than being a general allocation to the school district for unspecified educational improvements or operational costs.