After the issue featured heavily in local debate before the Nov. 4 elections, Suffolk officials quizzed Delegate Chris Jones, chairman of the state’s powerful House Appropriations Committee, on education funding Thursday.

The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce invited Suffolk’s General Assembly delegation to participate in a forum with members and guests at the North Suffolk Hilton Garden Inn.

Jones was the only state lawmaker to attend the breakfast event, and was questioned on state support for education from Suffolk Councilman Lue Ward and school district Superintendent Deran Whitney.

The questions came on the heels of Monday’s special session of the General Assembly, where a bill Jones introduced closed a $2.4-billion budget hole over two years, with measures including cutting $45 million from higher education and $30 million from local governments each year.

“What is the process you go through in cutting money from education?” Ward asked.

The full answer would take two or three hours to explain, Jones replied.

“Virginia has to have a balanced budget,” he said.

Protecting K-12 funding was prioritized, according to Jones. “I can’t tell you we are not going to touch it next year … but it’s my desire that we don’t,” he added.

Whitney questioned the timing of support for a new Governor’s School entrepreneurship program, given the financial pressure on school systems.

It’s a good concept, Whitney said, but “I’m just wondering if this is the best time. Might money come from public education?”

Reductions in federal spending make diversifying the economy crucial for Hampton Roads, Jones said. “You look at some of those business leaders, they don’t see the opportunity here or the education excellence that they would like to see sometimes,” he said.

Jones referenced Northern Virginia’s Thomas Jefferson School for Science and Technology — touted as a model for a regional Governor’s School for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

“We will have that discussion over the next 18 months. I will be very involved in that,” Jones said.

Whitney also told Jones he hopes state lawmakers will repeal the A-F grading system for individual schools, a measure they approved in 2013 that former Gov. Bob McDonnell had championed. Whitney pointed to “misconceptions” about the quality of education in city schools.

“Some people think you should have that,” Jones said. “I was supportive of it.” He added he would be glad to look at tweaks.

Suffolk councilmen Roger Fawcett and Mike Duman also attended the chamber event. Duman asked whether any incentives for small businesses “to hire or invest” were on the horizon.

“Not that I’m aware of,” Jones said, noting the budget hole. He said he’s working with Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s staff on new ways to encourage growth in the business sector, pointing to prior efforts that have paid off with the film and wine industries.

“We have got to do those things to create an environment where people want to come and invest,” Jones said. “That’s my biggest job: to work with the governor and create an environment that’s very conducive to creating and expanding jobs.”

The troubled new Route 460 project was also discussed. Jones said he meets weekly with Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne. They’re waiting to hear from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers which of five build proposals will receive an environmental permit.

Jones said he understands a decision will be announced at the end of 2014 or in early January.

“That’s going to be a very challenging project to complete,” he said, adding he thinks the project will use the current road’s alignment, or “maybe a variant of that.”

Of the $300 million spent on a proposal authorities and the private project partner previously signed a deal on, before environmental concerns sent officials back to the drawing board, $250 million was in the form of bonds that will eventually be paid from tolling revenue, he said.

“We were not well served by the former administration,” Jones said of the project. “It’s very upsetting and frustrating.”