First Woman Police Chief Sworn In And Proposed Inside Millage Change Opposed
Holly Murchland Sworn In as Westerville's First Female Police Chief
In a historic moment for the city, Holly Murchland was sworn in as the new Chief of the Westerville Division of Police during Tuesday night's City Council meeting, becoming the first woman to lead the department.
Murchland, a 32-year veteran of law enforcement, had been serving as acting chief since November 2024, following the retirement of Chief Charles Chandler. She was officially sworn in by City Manager Monica Dupee, who praised her qualifications and deep commitment to public service.
“I want to take just a moment to thank you all again for this opportunity,” Murchland said in remarks after the ceremony. “I am deeply honored and humbled to lead such a wonderful organization in a wonderful city, and I’ve said it since I got here—Westerville is a very special place.”
She thanked City Council and the Westerville community for their support of the police department, noting, “I’m very blessed to have a community that supports the police as much as they do and a Council that supports us as well.”
Murchland also offered heartfelt thanks to her family, especially the women who influenced her upbringing. “People have asked about how hard it is to be a female in this position and stuff, and I would have to say that my family—we come from very strong women,” she said. “My grandmothers, Lois Helsinger and Dorothy Moore, were the best matriarchs. They kept us all in line.”
She added, “I want to shout out to the women in my family who have been an example of strength and courage for me, but I also want to thank the men in our family as well, who have never ever stopped or hesitated in supporting the women in our family. And my husband, Bob, who’s here, has always supported me.”
Murchland joined the Westerville Division of Police in 2018 after retiring as a lieutenant from the Kettering Police Department. She served more than six years in Westerville, including as Assistant Chief, overseeing all department bureaus. She holds a degree in Criminal Justice from Anderson University and is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff & Command.
The Westerville Division of Police includes more than 100 employees, with 80 sworn officers serving a population of over 41,000.
Westerville Council Opposes House Bill 335, Citing Threat to Local Budgets and Home Rule
The Westerville City Council passed a resolution on Tuesday night opposing Ohio House Bill 335, legislation that would eliminate a key source of local government funding and grant new authority to unelected county budget commissions.
House Bill 335, introduced last week as the “Property Tax Relief Now Act,” proposes the elimination of inside millage—a long-established revenue stream allowed under the Ohio Constitution that does not require voter approval. Cities, counties, and school districts rely on it to fund services such as police and fire protection, infrastructure maintenance, parks, and pension obligations.
City Manager Monica Dupee explained the potential impact of the bill before the vote.
“This will impact the financial health and self-determination of all local Ohio governments,” she told council members. “House Bill 335 makes sweeping changes to property tax, including the elimination of the inside millage, which is a long-standing, vital source of revenue. With this removal of the inside mileage, there is absolutely no proposal for revenue replacement, which creates fiscal uncertainty for all local municipalities.”
In addition to removing local taxing authority, the bill would transfer budget oversight powers to county budget commissions—bodies that are unelected and, in many cases, unfamiliar to the public. These commissions would have the ability to limit property tax rates, reduce levies, and override municipal budgets based on their assessment of a city’s carryover balances.
Dupee warned that this shift would allow “an unelected board to overturn your decisions on municipal budgets.”
The council’s resolution characterizes the bill as “unbalanced and detrimental,” arguing that it penalizes responsible fiscal management by cities like Westerville and creates uncertainty for future planning. While council members acknowledged public concern about property taxes, they rejected HB 335 as a flawed solution that threatens local control.
The resolution, approved unanimously, directs copies to be sent to Governor Mike DeWine, Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel, and members of the Ohio General Assembly.
What is Inside Millage, And What Is Its Importance?
Westerville City Council voted unanimously this week to oppose House Bill 335 — a proposed state law that would eliminate inside millage for cities. Here's a simple explanation of what that means and why it matters.
What is Inside Millage?
Inside millage is a portion of property tax that local governments can collect without voter approval. It’s capped at 10 mills statewide (a mill is $1 per $1,000 of assessed property value) and split among cities, counties, school districts, and other local entities. These funds are guaranteed by the Ohio Constitution and used to pay for essential services, including police, fire protection, roadwork, and city administration.
How Is It Different From a Levy?
Unlike school or parks levies you vote on, inside millage is automatic — it’s a base level of funding local governments count on every year. Levies, also known as outside millage, require voter approval and typically fund specific projects or needs.
What Would the Bill Do?
House Bill 335 would allocate the city’s share of inside millage to counties. Westerville officials say this would mean losing millions in steady revenue, with no replacement funding from the state.
Why Is the City Against It?
City leaders say losing inside millage would leave two options: either cut essential services or ask voters to approve new taxes to replace the lost revenue. They also object to the bill giving more control over local budgets to unelected county boards.
The concern is straightforward: the city would lose control of local tax dollars and the ability to fund basic operations without raising taxes.
The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.
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