MCCOOK, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is considering spending roughly $260 million to expand three prison facilities, but officials in the southwest corner of the state think expanding the work camp there would be a better option.

Five community leaders from McCook recently visited Lincoln to make the case for expanding the McCook Work Ethic Camp to handle about 500 inmates.

Currently, the McCook program has 154 offenders and the capacity for 200.

McCook City Councilman Jerry Calvin says expanding the work camp would be more cost effective than building prison beds.

This fall, a consultant recommended the state add 750 new beds to the community corrections centers in Lincoln and Omaha. And the consultant also recommended adding more than 350 beds to the Lincoln Correctional Center.