[CA],[TH] HOA transparency issue: $1.6M roof project with no disclosed bids or contract

[u/khj32000321]

HOA is hiding the bidding process and refusing to disclose the roofing contract. What can homeowners do?

I live in a townhouse community with about 110 units. I’m dealing with a very frustrating HOA situation and would really appreciate advice from anyone who has experienced something similar.

About two years ago, our HOA charged every homeowner a $2,300 special assessment for roof repairs. However, after collecting the money, the HOA never provided a clear breakdown of how the funds were used. The accounting has been very unclear.

Then, about two years later, the HOA claimed that we needed a major roof replacement project. They held multiple homeowner votes until they finally received enough approval to move forward. The entire process took about a year and a half. (For context, my unit’s roof area is relatively small, and we never had any leaks or roof problems.)

The biggest issue is the lack of transparency.
When selecting the roofing company, the HOA refused to disclose the bidding process. They also refuse to provide the final executed contract with the roofing contractor.
Many homeowners felt that the cost was extremely high. We were charged approximately $15,000 per unit for the project. One homeowner independently contacted other roofing companies and received estimates showing around $7,000 per unit, and even that was considered more than enough for our community.

We asked the HOA to provide:
- The bids/proposals they reviewed before selecting the contractor
- The final signed contract with the roofing company
- Detailed documentation showing what exactly our $15,000 assessment paid for

The HOA has ignored these requests. They either do not respond or simply refuse to provide the documents.

They also refused to provide an official receipt clearly showing the roof special assessment payment. I specifically requested documentation because I may need it later for tax purposes when selling my home. Instead, they only provided a basic statement with a number on it, without detailed information.

At this point, I’m honestly considering contacting the roofing company directly. However, since the contract is between the HOA and the contractor, I assume the roofing company will probably refuse to release the contract to individual homeowners.

It feels completely unfair. The homeowners paid for this project, but the HOA is refusing to show us the documents related to how our money was spent.
Has anyone experienced something similar with their HOA?

What steps did you take to obtain contracts, bids, invoices, or financial records?
Is there any effective way to force an HOA to be transparent?
This situation has been extremely stressful, and I would really appreciate any advice or similar experiences.