Goodlettsville’s High receives 2024 Assistant City Manager of the Year Award
Through streamlining data services and putting a focus on customer service, Goodlettsville Assistant City Manager Julie High has implemented numerous changes that have both improved financial standing and created a positive culture for employees and customers in her city.
It is for this reason that the Tennessee City Management Association (TCMA) has recognized Julie High as its Assistant City Manager of the Year for 2024. High was presented the award Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at the 84th Annual Conference of the Tennessee Municipal League (TML) held at the Knoxville Convention Center.
High began her 24 years in public service as director of finance for the city of White House in 2000 before moving to serve as director of finance and administration for Goodlettsville in 2004. She was promoted to assistant city manager in 2012.
As assistant manager, High’s duties include the management and oversight of all financial and administrative services of the city, as well as many operational responsibilities including, development of certain ordinances and resolutions, budget development, capital improvement plan administration, and enhancing the customers’ experience interacting with the city.
In her role, High continues to improve Goodlettsville's bond rating, improve the city’s reserve balance from 15% to 105% of general fund operating experiences in a 10-year period, and continues to earn Goodlettsville the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).
High has also worked to streamline processes, policies, and procedures in ways that improve efficiency, transparency, and save costs. These efforts have improved the city’s purchasing process and brought in new and improved budgeting software. She also has successfully researched, implemented, and managed a myriad of important assignments and projects.
One such project is developing the next generation of municipal leaders in the workplace through education, mentoring, and effective succession planning. In addition to improving workplace culture, High has also seen the expansion in the level of customer experience for Goodlettsville residents by expanding hours of operations to creating new ways for customers to conveniently communicate with staff.
“Julie continues to perform a significant role in keeping the City of Goodlettsville in sound financial condition and is constantly researching ways in which to enhance the performance of all city departments,” said Goodlettsville City Manager Tim Ellis. “She has been an advocate for local governments and has affected outcomes that protects the best interest of Goodlettsville as well as every other municipality in Tennessee. Her tireless efforts to the community are far-reaching. Outside her service to local government, Julie has served in various other volunteer and leadership capacities all of which have had positive impacts, such as disaster recovery.”
High serves in various leadership roles inside Goodlettsville and across the state. She is a municipal advocate, serving on the University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service’s Advisory Committee and as chairperson of the University of Tennessee Institute of Public Services Advisory Committee.
Locally, High serves as the president of Leadership Goodlettsville and in various volunteer and leadership capacities, including in disaster recovery efforts in the community. An avid sports enthusiast, Julie and her husband Kerry are longtime Tennessee Titans fans and season ticket holders since the Titans came to Nashville. She is a proud mother of two daughters, Lindsay and Lauren, who followed in their mother’s footsteps, both graduating from Western Kentucky University.