Budget recommendations for the legislature's eight watchdogs are not yet public, but early indications are the offices should prepare to make cuts.

After 90 minutes meeting behind closed doors earlier this week, a divided finance and government services committee approved budget submissions for each of the legislative offices, but amended them first.

The offices include the Auditor General, representative for children and youth, Ombudsman, information and privacy commissioner, Elections B.C., police complaints commissioner, merit commissioner and conflict of interest commissioner.

The bipartisan committee includes five B.C. Liberal and four NDP MLAs. The various officers presented their budget submissions in late November and early December.

The Liberal members at the meeting voted in favour of the amended budgets, according to hansard, while the NDP members voted against.

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.