It could be worse.

A lot worse.

While Richmond County has been feeling the pinch of the recession, it isn’t in the shape of some local governments in North Carolina.

Mecklenburg County is closing libraries on Sundays and eliminating a drug and alcohol abuse program. It also plans to eliminate 256 positions, including 38 that now are filled as it faces a $78.9 million shortfall in next year’s budget.

The drug and alcohol abuse program serves about 8,000 children a year. Department director Grayce Crockett said the program has been successful, but a higher priority is placed on programs that offer treatment.

At this point Richmond County isn’t proposing a tax hike for next year. However County Manager Jim Haynes said this week that county employees will be asked to do more with less.

“Your county government has tightened its budget considerably in preparation for the next fiscal year,” Haynes told the county board. “It is because of modest spending and careful planning that we anticipate no change to the tax rate in the coming year, nor do we foresee any changes in services. According to last year’s audit, the fund balance also showed a positive increase, which means the county remains in a sound position.”

While we may gripe that we need more services in Richmond County, we should be grateful that we’re going to be able to keep getting the services we’re used to.

Fiscal analysts have forecast a $14.25 million shortfall in Durham County’s budget this year. That’s prompted County Manager Mike Ruffin to call for $8.9 million in cuts to county departments. The remainder of the shortfall would have to be made up through other county-funded agencies, include public schools, Durham Tech, the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science and various nonprofits, he said. In Charlotte that means less money for books, databases, movies and other materials.

If we can find a silver lining in the slower economy, it’s that we’ve all had to step back and take a hard look at where we spend our money. That goes for homeowners, businesses and municipal governments.

When the economy rebounds — and it will — we hope those lessons aren’t lost. Let’s not demand more from government than we’re willing to pay for. Let’s not expect a bureaucrat to fix problems that we ourselves can deal with. It’s the attitude that government has the answers that is partially to blame for the situation we’re in.