Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said he wants more time to respond to a lawsuit filed over Allentown's Neighborhood Improvement Zone.

The lawsuit was filed by Hanover and Bethlehem townships in Northampton County against Corbett, the state of Pennsylvania and a number of state officials.

The defendants were facing a Monday deadline to respond to the suit, but a petition filed Friday asked for an extra 30 days.

The townships are suing over the NIZ -- the special tax zone that's helping to fund construction of the hockey arena in downtown Allentown.

Several other municipalities have voted to join the lawsuit over the past month.