The annual budget serves as the foundation of Bedford County's financial planning and control.

All departments submit appropriation requests to the Finance department around December 1 of each year. Then, the budget committee uses the requests as a starting point for developing a proposed budget.

After developing a proposed budget, the committee oversees an extensive budget preparation process, which includes multiple worksessions with the Board of Supervisors. The Board adopts the annual budget (typically in April) following a public hearing.