Wut? We don't need any transparency

It's that time of year again. Assessments are under the tree. My HOA has only doubled the assessment, so I'll think of that as a gift. We got the email on Friday with the information about the increased assessment and notice of a Budget Ratification meeting. We are not being told why we need the increase, in fact, we aren't even being given a budget summary. I am told, come to the meeting and you will be given a "packet". That makes me very comfortable about voting but then since the ratification can only be overturned by 80% of the homeowners, my ability to understand the need for an increase is really moot.

The physical posting of the "notice" doesn't even give the location of the meeting or the time. It seems pretty clear what the choices are.

Now, the increase maybe perfectly reasonable but somewhere between plunking down 500K and NOT joining the Board, I have lost the ability to think like an adult and must be treated like an idiot. HOA - just sign the checks and let us think the hard things.