The Department of Corrections arranged for lawmakers to fly out Thursday morning to look at five possible sites for a minimum security facility in Rapid City. The cost of the flight: more than $1500.

The Legislative Research Council can't remember the last time lawmakers flew on a state airplane and says these types of trips are rare, but legislators say it was worth it.

Seven members of the Senate committee that's in charge of dolling out taxpayer dollars touched down in Rapid City Thursday riding in a state-owned airplane.

"We need to be part of the solution if we're going to be part of spending the money," Democratic Senator Jim Hundstad of Bath said.

And that's why lawmakers who boarded the plane for the rare field trip say it was worth the time and the money. 

"We filled the airplane number one.  There's no way we can be back for the session by driving to see these locations," Republican Senator Jeff Haverly of Rapid City said.

The legislators who flew into Rapid City for the four-hour tour say driving wouldn't have been an efficient and effective way to educate themselves and make an informed decision on a new location. 

"If you looked at the cost breakdown of windshield time and our time representing the people, I think you're going to find it to a positive not a negative," Haverly said.

The Department of Corrections says the decision on a minimum security facility in Rapid City is a "major policy decision for the state of South Dakota."

And with a week left in the legislative session, the DOC. says there was a very short window of time available for lawmakers to make this trip and make an informed decision on the facility.