Hey, we just found an easy place to cut $40 million from the state's capital budget.

It's the $40 million allocated to build a branch of Chicago State University on the west side of Chicago -- money that was not even requested by the university. That "surprise" doesn't give us a lot of confidence in the rest of the budget.

This sounds like one of those federal defense projects where Congress appropriates money for a weapons system the Pentagon doesn't want because senators and congressmen want the jobs that go with building the unwanted jet, tank or whatever.

It's not that Chicago State University doesn't want a west-side branch. Officials have talked about it from time to time. It's just that there's no money for staffing and no plan regarding what courses or programs would be offered.

At this point, Chicago State doesn't even have a president. Its new president starts Oct. 1.

The school also has the worst graduation rate among the state's public universities - 16.2 percent, compared to a statewide average of 59.5 percent - according to data from the Illinois Board of Higher Education. By comparison, Illinois State University's graduation rate is 65.2 percent.

Chicago State should focus on improving its performance. And state officials should focus on adequately funding existing public universities instead of calling for dubious expansion projects that haven't gone through usual review and planning procedures.