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Every few years the idea of raising city councilors' pay crops up, and every few years it goes down in flames.

But a narrow majority of councilors are hoping the 11th time will be the charm. They voted Monday to ask city voters Oct. 2 to raise their salaries from just under $10,000 to nearly $30,000.

Since 1977, the United States has seen five presidential administrations, six "Star Wars" movies and 10 failed attempts to raise Albuquerque City Council pay.

The most recent attempt was in 2004. (The most recent attempt at a "Star Wars" movie was in 2005, and that also failed.)

But indications that this time will be different weren't apparent at Monday's meeting.

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again," Councilor Sally Mayer said in a resigned tone.

Council President Debbie O'Malley, who eventually voted against the idea, sought clarification. "The plan, Councilor Mayer, is just to throw it and see if it sticks," she asked.

Councilor Isaac Benton offered this support: "I never got a raise I didn't ask for."

The measure passed 5-4, with negative votes from O'Malley, Michael Cadigan, Brad Winter and Martin Heinrich.

The pattern goes like this, Heinrich said: Candidates think it would be great to be on the council, "then they get up here and they realize how much work it is."

Between attending countless meetings, dissecting reams of paperwork and communicating with constituents (to say nothing of pesky reporters), the job can easily take 20 to 30 hours per week, several councilors said Monday.

Councilor Craig Loy cited the time commitment as one reason he announced recently he won't seek a second term.

Councilors are paid one 10th of the mayor's salary, which these days works out to just about $10,000.

Rounding up to $10,000 and assuming 20 hours per week, that translates to $9.61 per hour.

It's a wage that strikes many councilors as unfair, Heinrich said.

"I think that there's this eternal hope by the councilors that it's going to translate into the public understanding" of the council's need for a pay hike, he said.

The proposal would pay city councilors the same rate as that of Class A county commissions, such as Bernalillo. That rate is determined by the Legislature.