Editor's Note: This author did not attend the Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce luncheon yesterday, but talked afterward to Mayor Michael Morones, who spoke at the meeting, to report on what he said.

By Mary Alice Murphy

Silver City Mayor Michael Morones, who is an accountant in his career, said he talked about two major state statutes that have an impact on municipalities.

"The Municipal Local Options Tax Act allows communities of our size to have six

He said the act was a precursor to another body of law-the 3/8th option set out as a way for counties and municipalities to pay for services that the Hold Harmless Act has been paying for, but would stop paying for when Hold Harmless is phased out.

"If we impose the