Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 29, 2016	Jul. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$ 10,950	$ 10,161
Investment securities available for sale	1,489	1,499
Contract receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and contract adjustments of $6,019 and $5,929, respectively	32,384	34,319
Income tax receivable	655	916
Other current assets	2,879	2,104
Assets held for sale	1,335	0
Total current assets	49,692	48,999
Property, buildings and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $18,587 and $18,324, respectively	4,665	6,094
Deferred income taxes	2,413	2,650
Other assets	1,775	1,769
Total assets	58,545	59,512
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	6,995	6,874
Lines of credit	365	312
Accrued payroll costs	4,796	6,590
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	232	240
Billings in excess of revenue	3,747	3,297
Other accrued liabilities	2,752	3,445
Total current liabilities	18,887	20,758
Income taxes payable	107	107
Deferred income taxes	532	525
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations	184	217
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share (2,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued)	0	0
Capital in excess of par value	16,595	16,606
Retained earnings	23,102	22,237
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,146)	(2,143)
Treasury stock, at cost (Class A common: 34,822 and 39,272 shares; Class B common: 64,801 shares)	(1,122)	(1,172)
Total Ecology and Environment, Inc. shareholders' equity	36,473	35,572
Noncontrolling interests	2,362	2,333
Total shareholders' equity	38,835	37,905
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	58,545	59,512
Class A [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	30	30
Class B [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	$ 14	$ 14