When residents pay a tax or water bill, or trust the City to manage public dollars responsibly, much of that work flows through the City Treasurer’s Office. While the role often works behind the scenes, the impact touches nearly every service the City provides. For City Treasurer Julie Davis Long, the job is about more than numbers. It’s about clarity, trust, and helping the entire City work better together.
“I like to say the City is like a puzzle,” Julie said. “Every department and every person has a piece of that puzzle, and without all those pieces, the puzzle doesn’t work.”
What the Treasurer’s Office Does Every Day
At its core, the Treasurer’s Office serves as the City’s financial hub. Julie oversees the day-to-day operations of the office, making sure funds are moving accurately and on time. That includes monitoring bank accounts, managing cash flow, processing payments, and ensuring the City’s records reflect exactly what is coming in and what is going out.
Tax season is one of the busiest times of year. February brings winter tax deadlines, county settlements, and a steady flow of residents stopping in with questions. At the same time, the office continues managing other payments such as water bills, parking tickets, park rentals and more, creating what Julie describes as a “double down” workload.
Even so, Julie welcomes the face-to-face interaction.
“We actually get a lot of in-person tax payments,” she said. “And that’s a good thing, because people come in with questions. We’re here to help explain things and make sure residents understand what they’re paying and why.”
Building Understanding and Trust
One of the biggest misconceptions Julie encounters is that the Treasurer’s Office only handles taxes. In reality, the office manages payroll, payables, and the constant movement of funds across City operations. Helping residents understand that the bigger picture is a priority.
“Transparency builds trust,” Julie said. “If people understand how things work, they feel more confident in the system.”
That commitment shows up in how the office shares information, maintains clear records, and works closely with other departments. It also shows up in Julie’s approach to improving processes.
After her first year as Treasurer, Julie took a fresh look at how tax processing was handled.
“I followed the way it had been done before, and it just didn’t make sense to me,” she said. “The second year, I started from scratch. You’re not really reinventing the wheel. You’re just finding better, more efficient ways of doing things.”
The result was a clearer system, reduced stress, and a stronger understanding of the City’s financial flow.
“My stress level’s down,” Julie said. “I understand my spreadsheet. I understand what’s coming in and what’s going out. It just makes sense.”
A Role Built on Collaboration
Julie’s path to becoming Treasurer wasn’t a straight line. Over more than a decade in local government, she worked as a clerk, handled water billing and permits, and supported multiple departments across several communities before coming to Norton Shores. That broad experience helps her see how decisions in one area affect the whole organization.
“When you’ve done a little bit of everything, you understand how it all intertwines,” she said. “That helps when you’re solving problems or working with other departments.”
That collaboration is essential to keeping City services running smoothly and ensuring public funds are managed responsibly.
Looking Ahead
Julie is focused on continuing to make City finances easier for residents to understand. That includes improving online resources, creating clear educational materials on taxes and assessments, and exploring opportunities such as community information sessions where residents can ask questions before tax bills arrive.
The goal is simple. Fewer surprises, clearer communication, and a stronger connection between the City and the people it serves.
Proud to Serve Norton Shores
For Julie, public service is about stewardship. It’s about treating every dollar with care and making sure residents feel confident in how their City operates.
“I’m proud of the work we do here,” she said. “When everything is working together, it makes a real difference for the community.”
Through steady leadership, thoughtful improvements, and a commitment to transparency, the Treasurer’s Office plays a vital role in keeping Norton Shores moving forward, one carefully managed piece of the puzzle at a time.
Responsible stewardship. It’s in Our Nature.
