Moweaqua, IL (WAND) – Many residents in the Village of Moweaqua are concerned about the city departments’ overspending. Village records show the police department went significantly over budget in the 2024-25 fiscal year. Now residents are questioning if overtime policies are being followed.

“If you don’t true up before a month before year’s end, you’re going to start your year in the hole. Everything we’ve saved for years is gone too. And that’s how you’ve gotten into the spot that you’re in now,” one Moweaqua resident said.

The Village’s financial report budgeted $25,000 for the police department’s overtime. The department exceeded the budget by 69% — nearly $20,000 more.

According to Chairman Matt Misner, multiple departments need a refresher on overtime, namely comp time and sick time policies. This finance meeting addressed multiple financial items, but the big one is the cost-to-revenue deficit. This means more money is being spent than earned, so the board is operating at a loss.

“That can lead down a rabbit hole. That is really horrible,” Chairman Matt Misner said.

In December 2025, residents learned that $30,000 from the tax increment financing fund, known as TIFF, was moved to the general fund. The TIFF fund is only used for capital developments and infrastructure. The general fund is for day-to-day operations such as salaries.

“After talking to the TIFF man, you should not have this $30,000 loan from the TIFF,” one Moweaqua resident said.

The board will host personnel and general meetings in early February; both are open to the public. WAND News asked the chief of police and a few committee members for a comment about the financial deficit, and they declined to speak on camera.