January 10, 2001

To the Senate and the Assembly of the California Legislature:

I submit for your consideration the Governor’s Budget for 2001-02.

We begin this New Year with justifiable pride in our past accomplishments, while facing new challenges in the coming year. California’s economy continued its remarkable expansion in the year 2000, and we look ahead to sustaining this growth in 2001 and beyond.

We’ve made great progress in the past two years on our top priority of improving public schools and the education they provide for our children. This budget continues California on the path to excellence in education by calling for a significant lengthening of the school year in middle schools, undertaking a dramatic expansion of our highly successful teacher training program with a particular focus on algebra instruction, and providing key training on standards-based curriculum and management tools to school principals. Just as we have increased our expectations for every child in California schools, so we as public officials must increase our commitment to ensuring their success.

This Budget also focuses resources on the challenge we face in providing a stable and affordable supply of energy for all Californians now and in the future. Finally, the Budget reaffirms my strong commitment to enhance public safety, protect our environment, expand access to health care, and provide needed tax relief.

Together, we’ve done good work on behalf of the people we serve. I look forward to working together for California in this next Legislative Session.

Sincerely,

Gray Davis