City Manager Fearborn reviewed Raymore’s debt portfolio and borrowing capacity at the work session, citing figures the finance team said the council should consider as it evaluates long‑term facilities needs.

The nut graf — why this matters: understanding debt capacity and current outstanding debt lets the council and residents evaluate whether the city can finance large projects — such as a justice center — with voter‑approved bonds without increasing tax rates.

Fearborn said existing general‑obligation debt for next year totals $3,808,350 and that outstanding special‑obligation debt is about $9,863,446, for a combined outstanding debt of $41,833,446. He reported total general and specific debt capacity (the amount the city could issue with voter approval) is about $56,284,422, and after outstanding amounts are subtracted, the available general‑obligation capacity is $43,209,612 and specific capacity about $37,000,389. Fearborn emphasized the $43.2 million figure as the theoretical maximum the city could seek with voter approval, and noted the restricted revenue fund already has roughly $4 million set aside toward a potential justice center project.

Fearborn told the council those figures are for planning only and explained the distinction between general and specific debt margin and the difference between general‑obligation and special‑obligation debt. He emphasized any no‑tax‑increase bond proposal would require further council review and voter approval.

Ending: council members were provided the capacity figures as background for future justice‑center discussions; no bond resolution or formal direction was taken at the meeting.