Audit Finds Municipalities Bearing Unfunded Mandate

A state audit released Tuesday concludes that cities and towns are spending more than $11 million on school transportation costs that should be funded by the state or federal government.

Communities are required to provide transportation to homeless children from a community where temporary shelter is available to their original school.

State Auditor Suzanne Bump says it's state government's responsibility to pay for that service.

"There are 33 communities across the state that are spending over $100,000 that is going to transportation costs instead of instructional programming for the kids," she said.

The audit estimates the requirement costs Boston alone nearly $761,000.