(RALEIGH) -- Gov. Beverly Perdue's administration is now moving forward with a study mandated by the North Carolina Legislature months ago to examine options to pay $2.5 billion owed to the federal government for unemployment benefits. Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco told a legislative oversight committee Thursday the formal bid request for the outside examination has been posted.

"Our goal, through this study, is to provide this legislature options for decision making so that you can intelligently decide where we go from here, how we address this rather large debt," said Crisco.

Crisco suggested two weeks ago to a state senator that three reports from investment firms would suffice for the study. The senator, Bob Rucho of Mecklenburg County, said those reports wouldn't cut it and criticized state officials for failing to expedite the study.

Crisco said that higher unemployment insurance taxes for businesses are on the horizon that could help pay off the debt. He added that study recommendations should be available in February.