WAILUKU >> Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa hopes to reduce the number of county employees by about 7 percent through attrition by the end of his first year in office. 

The Maui News reported Arakawa announced the goal at the Maui Chamber of Commerce’s annual mayor’s luncheon yesterday.

Arakawa says he doesn’t expect county revenues to grow this year, yet he plans to increase spending on infrastructure, notably road repairs and water sources. He says spending on roads will “nearly double.” 

Arakawa also told the Maui County Council Budget and Finance Committee that cutting the county’s work force would be a critical step to keeping soaring retirement and benefit costs under control.