AUBURN – The city will soon begin working to replace three top managers as the threat of a 1 percent property tax cap recedes.

But City Manager Pat Finnigan said she still wants the go-ahead from city councilors.

“I’m assuming right now I have the authority to fill these spots, but I need to be sure,” Finnigan said. “Just because the property tax cap failed, that doesn’t mean we’re going to stop being careful with our budget. We still need to scrutinize every position carefully.”

The city is currently short three top officials. Finance Director Jill Eastman resigned in February and Assistant City Manager Mark Adams resigned in July. Planning Director Lee Jay Feldman stepped down last week to take a job in the private sector.

Finnigan said she held off advertising for replacements pending the outcome of a proposed property tax cap. The citizen initiative would have cut the city’s revenues by 68 percent and that would have meant staff layoffs. Finnigan said she planned to wait until after the vote to consider replacing the three directors. The referendum question failed in last Tuesday’s general election.

Filling the finance director position will be her top priority, Finnigan said. Community Relations Coordinator Laurie Smith has been filling in since Eastman left.

Finnigan said she hasn’t thought about how she will fill the open positions, however. She could reorganize existing staff or hire new employees.

There has been interest in the jobs, however. Several people have inquired, she said.

“I think that speaks well for the city,” she said. “But we will make sure everybody knows about these openings if we decide to fill them.”