We don't have to be reminded of the need. We've glimpsed the present of T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital at Erlanger, and we've seen the vision of the future. Children in the Chattanooga metro area would benefit from a more up-to-date health care facility than the one that presently exists on Third Street.
And we're happy for Erlanger's fund-raising campaign for that hospital that the city of Chattanooga - at least Mayor Andy Berke, so far - has decided to give the hospital $1 million over the next four years.
The statement from the mayor that it would be given "to honor the victims of the Woodmore bus crash" is also hard to argue with. Who would be against honoring the innocent victims of the November tragedy who lost their life while they were simply riding home from elementary school?
However, we believe the public deserves to have a few more answers about the money, which must be approved yearly by the City Council.
At this point, we know very little.
We know the money is coming out of the city's capital budget.
Does the city annually have $250,000 or more undesignated in its capital budget for the mayor to make such contributions?
If the money originally was designated for something else, what now will go unfunded in order for the city to make the contribution for the new children's hospital?
If there are no undesignated funds and nothing already in the budget will go unfunded, from what funds will the money come?
Once upon a time - actually only five years ago - the city and the county both gave $1.5 million annually to the hospital under terms of a joint sales tax agreement. However, that agreement ran out in 2011, and now only the county gives the hospital the $1.5 million. The city opted out of its portion.
Berke, now running for re-election along with most City Council members, said he recognized the need for the new facility during the aftermath of the bus crash when officials told him how severely injured patients and their families had to share common space because the hospital did not have enough private rooms.
To date, Erlanger says it has raised $25.5 million - including $11.5 million of its own money - of the $40 million it needs to build the first phase of the new hospital. Hospital officials say they must have commitments for 85 percent of the money before they break ground.
Again, we're delighted the city has agreed to help with the effort. We just believe the public deserves a few more answers about the money going to this good cause.