The Dorchester legislative delegation stands united in its desire to halt all discussions of consolidating the county's two school districts, Rep. George Bailey confirmed Wednesday.

Bailey, R-St. George, sponsored the initial bill to combine Districts 2 and 4 last May with the endorsement of the county's entire House delegation. But the lawmaker joined his colleagues in changing his tune this week after reading an economic impact report showing that Summerville property taxes would experience a 5 percent increase if merger were to occur.

"I cannot see putting a tax burden on the people of District 2 when I'm up here in Columbia trying to relieve property taxes," Bailey said.

Rep. Converse Chellis, chairman of the county's legislative delegation, and Rep. Annette Young, R-Summerville, also said Tuesday that they favored ending discussion of combining the districts.

Until Wednesday, Bailey served as the most vocal proponent of merging the Summerville school system with its rural counterpart in the upper reaches of the county. Bailey said he still thinks combining the districts would improve education in District 4, which has significantly lower test scores than the more affluent District 2.

"For years, I have thought consolidating the districts was the right thing to do," he said. "But right now, I am not for nothing to raise taxes on nobody. I heard the people loud and clear."

Quince Cody, president of the Greater Summerville/Dorchester Chamber of Commerce, said chamber members who responded to a survey during the summer expressed strong reservations about a merger if it came with any kind of tax increase for Summerville.

"The decision probably gives a lot of people a sigh of relief," Cody said. "Lower Dorchester was not in favor of this to begin with."

Although the merger plan may be off the table, proposed legislation in Columbia could force lawmakers to revisit the issue. Tax relief legislation - a hot topic at the Statehouse - could eliminate the bulk of property taxes in exchange for a 2-cent sales tax increase and alter the way school districts are funded.

If property taxes are taken out of the school funding equation, Bailey said the reported 5 percent tax increase for Summerville residents would be a moot point.

Still, District 2 school board Chairman Bo Blanton said school construction, not consolidation, will serve as his board's main focus.

"You always have to be ready for what the future may bring, but as far as we are concerned right now, our focus is on getting these schools completed," he said.

Blanton praised legislators for listening to school administrators, board members and residents while making their decision.

"When you talk to people in both districts, it wasn't just the tax increase that caused concern, since there were also a lot of unanswered questions about academic issues. It all played into the decision."

Reach Mindy B. Hagen at 937-5433 or mhagen@postandcourier.com.