Some drivers are crying foul after the city's inspector general revealed that some city workers are receiving free parking downtown.
The report shows that one River North enclosed garage providing free parking to employees could fetch at least $45,000 a year in revenue.
Attorney Zach Limbaugh, who works in the building, finds the perk ludicrous.
"We all have to pay at the meter. Everybody should pay at the meter," Limbaugh said.
The revelation is especially disconcerting for motorists who've been hit with increasingly higher rates at the parking meters.
NBC 5 caught up with a city worker who receives the free parking. She says she wouldn't be able to make ends meet if it wasn't for the parking perk.
"I'm lucky that I have it," the woman said.
The inspector general's report was less about criticizing free parking, and more about creating revenue from properties by selling them, or converting their use.
"If they're going to generate revenue, I'd much rather see them generate it by getting rid of some extra assets that are put to good use instead of going after innocent people for excessive fines," Limbaugh said.
Officials with the city's Department of Fleet and Facility Management says it's already doing that, and have saved taxpayers more than $8 million while creating $5 million in revenue.
