Councilman Jeff Russell’s frustration with cost overruns on the city’s fleet maintenance garage and conversion to new financial management software was evident last week.

Every additional dollar the city has to spend on the two projects is money that can’t be spent on something else that benefits city residents. So Russell isn’t wrong in asking for regular updates, particularly on the fleet maintenance garage. Spending on the project has been a moving target since it was first proposed, something that plenty of people questioned at the time. Thus far, the financial management system has been beset by similar problems. Contractual language was fuzzy, not all of the needed software was initially purchased and estimates for staff time weren’t even close to accurate.

Both projects show one issue with the previous mayoral administration – the lack of a competent comptroller to oversee costs on such large and complex projects. That isn’t a problem now, as new comptroller Ericka Thomas has proven herself to be adept at crystalizing the costs of a project and in dealing with the day-to-day task of managing the city’s finances. In roughly four months she’s provided the financial watchdog city residents have largely lacked since longtime city Comptroller Joe Bellitto retired. Look no further than her work on the fleet maintenance facility finances and the issues with the initial contracts for the financial management software conversion for proof of that fact.

Competency in the comptroller’s office would have gone a long way. But it can’t be forgotten that the power of the purse resides with the City Council – and too often council members have deferred to the mayor’s office rather than making the office show its work before projects are approved. Mayors and their staff propose spending. Council members approve spending. It’s a critical part of our system of checks and balances. If the executive branch is doing its job well, there isn’t much to check. But if the executive branch is wrong, the council is a necessary check to make sure taxpayer dollars aren’t wasted.

The additional reporting and updates are a good thing. But council members have to remember the time to ask for clarity is before projects are approved, not after.