What audit and approval requirement must be fulfilled before payments are drawn from the City fund?

The requirement for audit and approval before payments can be drawn from the City fund is grounded in the City's internal governance framework, typically established in the City Charter. The City Charter serves as the fundamental document that outlines the legal structure, powers, and functions of the city government and its various entities, including financial operations.

This document often delineates the procedures required for financial transactions, ensuring accountability and adherence to established financial management practices. By requiring that expenditures be made in accordance with the City Charter, it ensures that there is a formalized and standardized process that minimizes the risk of fraud, mismanagement, or misuse of public funds.

The other choices, while they may relate to governance in some capacity, do not represent the primary legal foundation or the specific requirements imposed by law for financial transactions. A Mayor’s order can guide operations but typically does not hold the same legal weight or comprehensiveness as the City Charter. Similarly, council ordinances may initiate specific actions but are not necessarily the overarching authority governing all fund disbursements. Customs and traditions, while important in the context of organizational culture, do not carry the legal authority required for compliance in municipal finance matters.