Answer Community Association excessive and exorbitant $1500.00 special assessment with construction defect scenario Brea California

It all started about a year and a half ago when the homeowners at Club Acacia in Fullerton,CA were told in a very brief one page flyer that testing for asbestos was needed because of some "anonymous" complaint.  What prompted the complaint was not explained nor was there any proof given that such an inspection was justified. 

Upon inspection, however, apparently some minute traces were found.  As a result, there was supposed to be some major asbestos removal procedure done on all four tenement buildings here though I am not sure what was done to safeguard us from such a lethal threat except for changing the carpets.  By the way, this asbestos threat removal procedure was limited to common areas only and not inside any units which makes no sense at all. I don't have exact figures but the bill for such actions was many thousands.

Shortly thereafter, a fire inspection was conducted and repairs were deemed necessary to bring the property up to code but I am unclear about exactly what the code violations were because it was never explained in detail.  Incidentally, somehow during this process, homeowner's incurred an additional $40,000+ bill for drywall repairs.

I'm still confused about the circumstances surrounding the drywall repairs.  From what I heard at a recent association meeting, the holes were supposed to have been fixed by the inspectors or original contractor hired to bring the property up to code but were not so we had to hire another contractor to patch them.  Even so, I still don't know why we were charged so much when, in my estimation, the totality of holes amounted to only about 10% of the ceiling in the hallways.  Another bothersome fact is that during an association meeting it was found out that the second contractor hired is acquainted with one of the board members.

A month ago, Answer Community Association, handed homeowner's a very strongly worded letter stating that a "special" assessment was necessary over and above the monthly assessment in the amount of $1500.00 per unit and needed to be paid immediately as we are devoid of reserve funds!?!  There are 114 units here, so the total of the "special" assessment is $171,000.00.  HELP!!  This is not an upper eschalon place at all and most of us here are on fixed incomes.  Regardless, the real question is, FOR WHAT?!  The HOA receives $48,000 per month which is all conveniently used up with nothing saved and little to show for it in terms of actual work done.  How is that possible?  I really suspect something rotten is going on here based on some vague explanations and very questionable expenditures. 

The HOA makes $35,000 per year for management services.  Additionally, we are charged $40,000+ for a maintenance guy who is not even here half the time.  He probably makes about $10 an hour.  Where is the rest of it going? 

There are many more questionable expenses which lead me to believe we are being ripped off by our HOA.  Homeowners feel helpless and some outside intervention is greatly needed to investigate possible fraud and/or mismanagement.  Please help us stop this runaway train!!