Lawmakers should address wasteful spending in higher education, which is hurting students, their families, instructors and taxpayers.

Illinois spends more money on retirement costs than on university operations – and tuition keeps rising to prop up this overspending. Instead of hiking taxes to maintain current spending habits in higher education, politicians should shift priorities from propping up six-figure administrators to keeping tuition affordable for students.

Chicago State University spent more than $200,000 lobbying Springfield politicians, while deteriorating finances caused it to lay off hundreds of employees, including professors.

The outgoing CSU president’s exorbitant severance package highlights the need to rein in Illinois universities’ high administrative costs.