Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 28, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$ 11,860	$ 10,161
Investment securities available for sale	1,462	1,499
Contract receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and contract adjustments of $2,047 and $6,792, respectively	31,355	34,319
Income tax receivable	3,014	916
Other current assets	2,458	2,104
Assets held for sale	1,300	0
Total current assets	51,449	48,999
Property, buildings and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $18,931 and $18,324, respectively	4,486	6,094
Deferred income taxes	659	2,650
Other assets	1,796	1,769
Total assets	58,390	59,512
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	6,756	6,874
Lines of credit	622	312
Accrued payroll costs	5,654	6,590
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	223	240
Billings in excess of revenue	4,317	3,297
Other accrued liabilities	2,749	3,445
Total current liabilities	20,321	20,758
Income taxes payable	107	107
Deferred income taxes	867	525
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations	78	217
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)
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	21,925	22,237
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,113)	(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	35,329	35,572
Noncontrolling interests	1,688	2,333
Total shareholders' equity	37,017	37,905
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	58,390	59,512
Class A [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	30	30
Class B [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	$ 14	$ 14