Note 3 - Supplemental Balance Sheet Information

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Supplemental Balance Sheet Disclosures [Text Block]

3.           SUPPLEMENTAL BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts is summarized as follows for the years ended December 31 (in thousands):

	2011		2010			2009
Balance, at beginning of year	$	2,768	$	2,405		$	1,700
Charged to expense		397		451			396
Write-offs and adjustments		144		(88	)		309
Balance, at end of year	$	3,309	$	2,768		$	2,405

Costs and Estimated Earnings on Uncompleted Contracts

Costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts consisted of the following at December 31 (in thousands):

	2011			2010
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts	$	599,242		$	569,856
Estimated earnings to date		171,983			120,595
Subtotal		771,225			690,451
Less – billings to date		(727,977	)		(633,519	)
Total	$	43,248		$	56,932
Included in the accompanying balance sheets:
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings		67,683			69,544
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings		(24,435	)		(12,612	)
Total	$	43,248		$	56,932

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings represent work performed that could not be billed either due to contract stipulations or the required contractual documentation has not been finalized. Substantially all unbilled amounts are expected to be billed and collected within one year.

Inventories

Inventories are summarized as follows at December 31 (in thousands):

	2011		2010
Raw materials and supplies	$	17,353	$	10,317
Work-in-process		6,767		5,171
Finished products		11,902		9,167
Construction materials		18,518		17,869
Total	$	54,540	$	42,524

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following at December 31 (in thousands):

		Estimated Useful Lives (Years)		2011			2010
Land and land improvements				$	12,725		$	12,791
Buildings and improvements	5	–	40		64,810			64,287
Machinery and equipment	4	–	10		176,997			164,679
Furniture and fixtures	3	–	10		16,611			15,673
Autos and trucks	3	–	10		48,855			48,596
Construction in progress					15,263			9,089
Subtotal					335,261			315,115
Less – Accumulated depreciation					(166,316	)		(150,629	)
Total				$	168,945		$	164,486

Depreciation expense was $28.9 million, $24.3 million and $22.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Accrued Expenses

Accrued expenses consisted of the following at December 31 (in thousands):

	2011		2010
Vendor and other accrued expenses	$	29,818	$	29,028
Estimated casualty and healthcare liabilities		13,684		17,340
Job costs		14,654		15,353
Accrued compensation		10,454		9,936
Income tax payable and deferred income taxes		807		1,378
Total	$	69,417	$	73,035