BEDFORD -- The only two speakers at Monday evening's public hearing on Bedford County's proposed budget both criticized the efficiency of the sheriff's department.

Billy Hackworth of Bedford said the sheriff's department is "the biggest waste of money" in the county per employee.

Funding for the sheriff's department is proposed to increase by $28,000 for the upcoming fiscal year.

"I just can't believe y'all took a million and a half [dollars] away from the school system instead of the sheriff's department," Richard Ruff of Goode said to the Bedford County Board of Supervisors.

The toughest part of crafting this year's budget was cutting the funding to the county's school division, Chairman John Sharp said.

In years past, the county has split new revenue with the school division. But this is the first year in recent history that the county anticipates a decline in revenue to the tune of $3 million. The board of supervisors pledged to pass half the loss to the school division. More than 50 percent of the county's budget is allocated to the school system.

Last month, the Bedford County School Board submitted a budget requesting about $300,000 more than what the board of supervisors said it would appropriate.

As for the discrepancy, "we will determine that in our final budget work session," Sharp said.

The supervisors have opted to keep the real estate tax at 50 cents per $100 of assessed value.

Only four residents showed up for the board of supervisors' hearing Monday at Bedford Science & Technology Center.

"The primary reason there were so few faces is everyone is well aware of what is going on in the economy," County Administrator Kathleen Guzi said.

More people attend public hearings in years where there is more at stake, such as an increase in the tax rate, a real estate reassessment or when there is more money to distribute, Sharp said.

The board is expected to act on the $83 million budget at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the County Administration Building in Bedford.