Chambers back reforms to save urban cores

REGION

Third-class cities initiative backs pension, arbitration and economic reforms

Revenues are shrinking, costs are skyrocketing, and Pennsylvania's third-class cities are struggling to keep the books balanced.

Meanwhile, state laws limit their options.

If the problems aren't fixed, companies could be slow to move to Central Pennsylvania and businesses across the region would have trouble attracting talented job prospects, according to state chambers of commerce, including three in the midstate.

The Harrisburg, Lancaster and York chambers and others have signed onto the Third-Class Cities White Paper that asks the state to make changes to the …