A few years back state lawmakers increased the tax applied to real estate transactions. It was supposed to be a one time hike to help funnel additional revenue to cash-strapped cities and towns.

But it's been extended again and again and again.

The tax sunsets in June, taking an estimated $25 million in municipal revenues with it. The House of Representatives today extended it for one more year. They also, as we reported last month, stripped out a controversial change from the 2009 session that, beginning this year, imposed the tax on foreclosures.

The state Senate was supposed to have voted on the conveyance bill tonight, but it got overlooked in the frenzied minutes before midnight and the scramble to pass as many other non-controversial pieces of legislation as possible before the session ended.

Senate President Donald Williams, D-Brooklyn, said afterward the legislature will deal with the oversite either during a special session or a veto session, which is called to try and overturn any legislation vetoed by the Governor.

"We like it," Williams said. "We like the fact it provides much-needed relief to cities and towns."

In a somewhat related story, the Senate did give final passage to a bill extending Connecticut's foreclosure mediation program, intended to help keep more folks in their homes by requiring lenders participate in mandatory sessions with Judicial Branch mediators.

The program has helped an estimated 3,300 homeowners since its inception in 2008.

UPDATE: CCM Director Jim Finley just made a personal appearance in the capitol press room to deliver the following statement: "CCM is shocked that after repeated assurances from Senate leaders and staff, the state Senate failed to act to extend the rates of the municipal real estate conveyance tax. Unless this inaction is reversed in special session, towns and cities will have to cutback services further and consider additional employee layoffs."