Barack Obama’s transition team has found a problem they are not sure how to navigate. Actually, it is his party team that has the problem. The team preparing for the inauguration party is not quite sure how hard to party.

In these troubled times, the party organizers don’t want to look insensitive.

Obama’s inaugural address is likely to emphasize the hard times, maybe even suggest we need to make some sacrifices. Yet the historic nature of Obama’s election needs a full celebration.

What is a political party animal to do?

Obama does have historical precedent to cancel the inaugural ball. Franklin Roosevelt did it in 1933, then again in 1937 and 1941.

That made Roosevelt look good to a country struggling in the Great Depression, but it may not have been much of a sacrifice to Roosevelt anyway.

Tim Blessing, a history and political science professor at Alvernia University in Pennsylvania, said it was questionable whether that was because of tough times “or simply because FDR disliked the balls.”

On the other extreme is Lyndon Johnson’s inauguration in 1965. It was said to have 1.2 million guests. Obama’s inauguration could easily surpass that.

George Bush’s 2005 affair was the most expensive at $40 million. Again, that is an easy target for Obama to pass. Some conservatives are raising complaints that the cost may reach $100 million for this one.

Obama has already announced that lobbyists’ donations will not be accepted, and individual donations will be capped at $50,000. However, that is only a small PR concession on this hugely symbolic matter.

Others say that even in bad times, a one-night party is not out-of-step.

“History teaches us that the party must go on,” said Jim Bendat, Los Angeles-based author of “Democracy’s Big Day: The Inauguration of our President 1789-2009.” “The general feeling seems to be that for one night it’s OK to have a big party.”

A movement is already afoot to make the Obama inauguration the most inclusive in history. Plans are being made for a big celebration along the National Mall. The admission will be free, but the celebration is apt to be ecstatic. Of course, the weather will be about 30 degrees.

In the end, Obama will probably try to achieve both goals: a celebration comparable to his historic election and a reasonable budget.

Placing a celebration on the Mall with no charge will bring out the revelers and exceed Johnson’s 1.2 million. The harder part will be capping the expenses below $40 million. If Obama can keep under Bush’s party expenses, he will look restrained.

In the end, people are going to want to party. That will be partly for Obama’s election, but many will also celebrate that George Bush is going home to Texas. For some, no one can put a price on that.