This is change the mayor can believe in.

Faced with criticism over bloated and scandal-plagued technology contracts, one of Mayor Bloomberg’s top lieutenants told the City Council yesterday that the administration could support stricter oversight for deals like the fraud-ridden CityTime payroll system.

“What we want to do is make sure we strike the right balance in reporting, between making sure the projects can move forward and … scope and cost changes,” Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway told reporters after his testimony.

Holloway was called before council members in the wake of indictments connected to the $760 million CityTime scandal, as well as revelations — first reported by The Post — that the New York City Automated Payroll System cost $277 million beyond its original $66 million budget.

Holloway said he would be working with council members on new oversight measures as the city tightens its own internal controls.