A new city audit revealed issues with Austin's frequent use of third-party contractors, including unclear justifications and reporting on work that recently cost nearly $300 million in less than three years.

The details: Contracting with consultants is common in Austin, with most city departments reliant on some level of third-party support. The practice grew increasingly expensive in the less than three-year period covered by the March audit, with annual costs surpassing $100 million in total last year.

The audit found:

• City departments typically don't evaluate whether they could complete work internally rather than contract it out.
• Many third-party deliverables aren't measurable.
• City staff were sometimes unable to answer "basic questions" about contracts.
• Most contract results were never evaluated after work was completed.
• Poorly performing contractors were sometimes rehired for further work.

Just under a year after Mark IV Capital broke ground on the infrastructure for its Round Rock mixed-used project known as The District, the developer and city officials marked the start of vertical construction on the project March 4.

What you need to know: The developer held a ground breaking for Origin at The District, a luxury multifamily residential community. Speakers at the event highlighted plans for high ceilings, street-level retail and strong amenities for residents. These residences will be integrated directly into ground-level retail.

Retail Street Advisors founder Aaron Stephenson said his firm is directing retail merchandising strategy for the project. The end goal, he said, is to bring retail that not only draws people to The District, but encourages people to spend time there.

What they're saying: "We want it to be experiential—experience driven—not just buildings by the road," Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan said in a recorded message ahead of the ground breaking. "It's a place where people can come, stay, collaborate, live, work and really thrive."

The Texas Supreme Court suspended an order that extended election day voting hours at two Williamson County polling locations, according to a county news release.

Provisional ballots cast by approximately 150 to 200 voters who joined the line after 7 p.m. will not be counted unless the Texas Supreme Court ultimately rules otherwise.

What happened: Ahead of the 7 p.m. poll closing time for the primary election March 3, the Texas Civil Rights Project filed a lawsuit against the local party chairs to extend voting at the Georgetown Annex and Northstar Georgetown locations due to long lines.

Despite objections from the Texas Attorney General's Office regarding a lack of legally required notice, District Judge Betsy Lambeth granted the extension, ordering the polls to remain open until 10 p.m. and delaying the publication of early voting results.

In response, the Attorney General's Office filed an emergency appeal, and the Texas Supreme Court intervened to suspend Lambeth's ruling just after 10 p.m.