State of the Town 2012: 'Los Gatos Has Many Reasons to Celebrate!'

In a short State of the Town address Monday evening, Los Gatos Mayor Steve Rice listed the following as challenges that lay ahead:

• The Los Gatos Boulevard Plan

But those issues seemed overshadowed by the

Rice then mentioned the following celebrations this year, which made him state: "Am I lucky to be mayor this year? Yes, I think so."

• Los Gatos Jubilee Year honoring its 125th anniversary

Reaction was positive to Rice's 10-minute-plus speech.

Dale Hill, a member of the Board of Directors of the nonprofit organization, said she thought Rice had given a "good speech;" her favorite part was the mayor's praise for the much-anticipated grand opening.

Councilwoman Diane McNutt praised Rice for summarizing the town's future challenges, but also for clearly stating the reasons "to be happy and glad in 2012 in Los Gatos because it's going to be an exciting year."

called Rice's speech a "clear representation" of what lies ahead, and concurred 2012 will be a celebratory year for the town.

but it has now been reduced to $1.8 million for fiscal year 2012-13, due to an influx of Netflix sales taxes which are being retained and not lost to San Jose, Rice said.

Los Gatos Councilman Joe Pirzynski said Rice was accurate in focusing on reasons to celebrate the town. "We're in really good shape," said the former mayor. "If you compare us to the other 14 cities and towns in the county we're way ahead in terms of everything we're able to provide. Our finances are solid."

To read the complete speech, please