The Bethel Board of Finance is sending a budget plan to a public hearing for further consideration.  The $78.5 million represents a 5.2 percent increase over the current year.  Officials say the budget proposal, if approved as is, would raise the tax rate about 2.5 percent.  The plan is broken down into $46.5 million for the schools, $26.4 million on the municipal side, and the balance for debt service and maintenance.  Officials say most of the hike is to pay off some of the police station and school renovation projects.  Rising enrollment and new state requirements also led to an increase in the school request.  The public hearing is March 19th.  The Board of Finance will review the budget and then send it to a town meeting on April 1st.