FARMINGTON — Voters at the annual Town Meeting approved a $4,650,934 budget for the coming year, representing a 4.2 percent increase from last year.

The construction of a garage at the new police station was among the highlights of the spending plan, with residents picking between two proposals to fund the project.

Voters approved, 81-21, selectmen’s plan on the payment structure for the project at the police station, which opened this month.

The Police Department requested $75,000 to cover the estimated cost to build the garage. Selectmen and the town’s Budget Committee were divided on how they wanted the town to pay for the project.

Residents on Monday backed the selectmen’s plan to fund the project over three years, setting aside $25,000 annually. The Budget Committee wanted to include the entire $75,000 in the budget adopted Monday.

In other articles, requests from outside agencies for donations from the town drew some of the most debate, with voters overwhelmingly approving all but one of the requests. The only article rejected was $2,500 for the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, with many residents saying they refused to support the group because of concerns about its viability and politically partisan practices.

Town officials estimate the budget adopted Monday will increase the 2012 tax rate to $16.51 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The owner of a home with a $100,000 assessment would pay $50 more in taxes than last year, based on the estimate.

The tax-rate estimate would change if the county and school district tax assessments, which will be addressed later this year, increase substantially. The estimate also relies on local assessment values increasing by about 1.5 percent.

Voters at the meeting also passed ordinances that regulate wind energy projects as well as medical marijuana clinics and dispensaries. The town ordinances will provide local control over the two issues, which otherwise are managed by state law.

David Robinson — 861-9287

[email protected]