Budget dust

From The Indispensable Librarian, 2nd Edition, Chapter 8 "Budget"

Here’s a little trick many librarians have learned: A good time to ask for money for a special project or piece of equipment is a month or so before the end of the school’s fiscal year. Principals and others may be looking for ways to spend the small balances of their accounts (budget dust). Have a list of items your library needs that can be quickly acquired and paid for.