The school tax rate will increase under a $50.8 million budget proposal introduced by the Board of Education last week.District Business Administrator Tim Kelley told the board it has been a tough budget year.“Probably one of the more difficult ones in my time here in Ocean City,” he said.Rising costs and a state cap on tax increases meant taking a close, hard look at the budget, he said.The budget proposal goes next to the state Department of Education’s county superintendent for review before coming back before the school board for a public hearing and final vote May 1.