MARYSVILLE – Mayor Jon Nehring has always talked about transparency in his government. Now he’s taken it one step further.

The city has launched an application on its website where people can go to see how much the city is spending and bringing in.

The new Open Budget and Open Checkbook sites allow users to click through and see how much money is going into and out of each department.

If you want, you can track the spending even further, often down to subdepartments and specific projects.

The city contracted with Seattle software company Socrata to build the sites for $15,750, which includes the first year of service, city spokeswoman Bronlea Mishler said.

All the services can be accessed from marysvillewa.gov/123/finance.

“See who spent all the money – police,” Public Works Director Kevin Nielsen teased Police Chief Rick Smith.

Citizens can find out who the top vendors are, where most of the projects are happening and even get some analysis on spending.

Also at the City Council work session Feb. 1, Nehring said he was part of a local contingent that shared their visions with the state legislators last week. Nehring said the discussion focused on five goals, including:

1. State Route 529/Interstate 5 Interchange Expansion Project: The plan would build a northbound offramp for $15 million in 2018 and a southbound onramp for $30 million in 2020 south of town, relieving congestion and improving freight mobility. The city has contributed $1.5 million and the county $500,000. The city also has received a $5 million grant and received approval by the state legislature to complete the project.

2. Arlington-Marysville Manufacturing Industrial Center: The cities are jointly funding a market study. A property tax exemption has been approved for incoming businesses that qualify for it. A warehouse is under construction, as is a behavioral health facility. Marysville has created a regional drainage system.

3. Ebey Waterfront Park and Trail Project: The city is seeking funding to develop the Waterfront Park and downtown, along with extending the trail system, in the newly restored Qwuloolt Estuary. The city will construct a paved trail along Ebey Slough. Project support is needed for four additional stages of development.

4. Grove Street Overcrossing Project: The bridge would be almost 67 feet wide and 120 feet long and connect State and Cedar streets at Grove. It would eliviate east-west congestion along the railroad tracks and have the least impact on adjacent properties.

5. Centennial Trail Connector: The city and county have finished the first two phases of the Bayview Trail project from Highway 528 to 84th Street. The last step is to connect that with the Centennial Trail to the north. The one mile asphalt trail would provide recreation and alternative modes of transportation to commercial centers.

In other news at the work session:

•The panel looks like it is set to OK almost $6.106 million for the Sunnyside Well Treatment Facility. The well would produce 3 million gallons a day, and help the city in Nehring’s goal of becoming water independent. Nielsen said the city will pay for the work with cash reserves. “We will save money in the long run,” he said. Nielsen added that the city is very happy with the bidder, that work should begin in about 60 days, and the project should be done in about a year.

•The council also talked about getting rid of its library board, considering the facility is now a part of the Sno-Isle system.

•City Attorney Jon Walker discussed the need to change city code regarding animal cruelty.

•Nielsen talked about Community Transit bringing more service and new buses to town.