Editorial: Questioning how funds are spent is how oversight works

Oversight is important.

One function of government is to decide how money is spent. Whether it’s the state, a municipality or a school board, government agencies take in tax money, grants or pass-through funds from a higher level of government and plan how best to distribute it.

Another function is making sure the money is going where it needs to go. A big chunk of public meetings is spent doing things like reviewing bills or contracts and asking questions. Why was this road paved instead of that one? Why wasn’t this vendor engaged through a bidding process?

It’s the responsible thing to do. There is a difference between the people hired by government to do a job and the people elected to be answerable for the decisions.

That is why Pittsburgh City Council did the right thing Tuesday in passing legislation that requires recipients of Stop the Violence fund grants to tell the city exactly how they spend the money they receive.

This should be obvious. It’s generally a component of any grant. Compliance with the terms of any grant is part of the contract for receiving it. And if there hasn’t been any kind of verification process, that’s a failure on the city’s part.

The real issue here is more one of political squabbling between some members of council and Mayor Ed Gainey’s office. The sides spent last week sparring over the $15 million fund and its uses.

It included questions from Councilman Anthony Coghill, D-Beechview, over whether the money could be used in other ways. Gainey replied with a fiery news conference about attempts to “raid” the money.

The fighting is ridiculous. Coghill was within his rights to ask questions and to query about potential changes. He isn’t the only one who has proposed other uses. Council previously has allowed money from the fund to go to Parks and Recreation and to provide legal support for those being evicted.

Pittsburgh has money problems, including in the public safety arena. Council would be derelict in its duty to both stop violence and protect the bottom line if it didn’t ask questions about it.

“I don’t think it’s wrong to ask questions,” said Councilman Bobby Wilson, D-North Side. “I think it’s important to note the fund has changed.”

Part of overseeing the administration of public policy and the fund that supports it isn’t just rubber-stamping what was previously approved. It is looking at yesterday’s actions, today’s outcomes and tomorrow’s needs.

No one in government should be demonized for asking questions. That’s how oversight works.