Mike Wolanin | The Republic An exterior view of The Commons through a c-shaped bike rack in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022.
Members of The Commons board have made a recommendation that rental rates for usage of the space in 2027 remain the same as they will be in 2026.
Columbus Parks and Recreation board members make final decisions for what rental rates will be at The Commons.
Rates for 2026 were increased last year, the first bump in rates since 2023. That follows a trend of rate increases just about every other year over the past seven, Commons Manager Shanda Sasse told board members.
“In 2023, we upped the rates and then for ‘24 and ‘25, we’ve held,” Sasse said. “And in 2026, we upped those last year.”
The window for 2026 bookings will open on Dec. 1, which meant it was time to begin considering what rates in 2027 will be, Sasse said.
Rental rates differ depending on when and where an event is held and who is holding it.
The Commons offers discounted pricing for 501c3 organizations, and provides options for use of both the Nugent-Custer Performance Space and Upper Miller-Tangeman Lobby, just the Upper Miller-Tangeman Lobby, and The Patio.
The following are rates for the different spaces that will be considered later by the parks board:
Nugent-Custer Performance Space and Upper Miller-Tangeman Lobby (For-profit, private organizations)
- Friday-Saturday: $3,000 (4 p.m. to close), $1,600 (two hour event before 5 p.m.), $4,000 (7 a.m. to close)
- Sunday-Thursday: $1,500 (4 p.m. to close), $800 (two hour event before 5 p.m.), $2,200 (7 a.m. to close)
Nugent-Custer Performance Space and Upper Miller-Tangeman Lobby (501c3)
- Friday-Saturday: $1,450 (4 p.m. to close), $650 (two hour event before 5 p.m.), $2,300 (7 a.m. to close)
- Sunday-Thursday: $1,000 (4 p.m. to close), $500 (two hour event before 5 p.m.), $1,550 (7 a.m. to close)
Upper Miller-Tangeman Lobby (For-profit, private organizations)
- Friday-Saturday: $500 (4 p.m. to close), $250 (two hour event before 5 p.m.), $700 (7 a.m. to close)
- Sunday-Thursday: $400 (4 p.m. to close), $200 (two hour event before 5 p.m.), $500 (7 a.m. to close)
Upper Miller-Tangeman Lobby (501c3)
- Friday-Saturday: $350 (4 p.m. to close), $200 (two hour event before 5 p.m.), $550 (7 a.m. to close)
- Sunday-Thursday: $300 (4 p.m. to close), $150 (two hour event before 5 p.m.), $450 (7 a.m. to close)
The Patio (For-profit, private organizations)
- Friday-Saturday: $600 (4 p.m. to close), $300 (two hour event before 5 p.m.), $800 (7 a.m. to close)
- Sunday-Thursday: $450 (4 p.m. to close), $225 (two hour event before 5 p.m.), $650 (7 a.m. to close)
The Patio (501c3)
- Friday-Saturday: $500 (4 p.m. to close), $200 (two hour event before 5 p.m.), $700 (7 a.m. to close)
- Sunday-Thursday: $400 (4 p.m. to close), $150 (two hour event before 5 p.m.), $550 (7 a.m. to close)
Sasse said that when rental rates have increased in the past, booking numbers have remained fairly consistent, but that there is sometime more of a fluctuation of bookings between non-profit organizations and private, for-profit organizations.
In 2025, The Commons is seeing an uptick in private, for-profit rentals, Sasse noted.
Revenues in 2025 are expected to land above $192,000, with September being the month bringing in the most revenue at $24,017, according to city documents.
Sasse said The Commons revenue numbers are $30,000 up from where they ended in 2024.
The 2026 Commons budget anticipates a deficit of $189,000, an improvement from the 2025 budgeted deficit of $337,000, due to increased revenue and reduced spending, according to meeting minutes from September’s meeting.
The Commons is supported annually through a transfer of $600,000 in Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) funds.
