Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jul. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$ 13,343	$ 10,161
Investment securities available for sale	1,498	1,499
Contract receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and contract adjustments of $2,125 and $6,792, respectively	35,107	34,319
Income tax receivable	1,293	916
Other current assets	2,119	2,104
Total current assets	53,360	48,999
Property, buildings and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $16,994 and $18,324, respectively	4,428	6,094
Deferred income taxes	1,203	2,650
Other assets	1,786	1,769
Total assets	60,777	59,512
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	8,073	6,874
Lines of credit	581	312
Accrued payroll costs	6,338	6,590
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	382	240
Billings in excess of revenue	2,850	3,297
Other accrued liabilities	2,645	3,445
Total current liabilities	20,869	20,758
Income taxes payable	31	107
Deferred income taxes	3	525
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations	66	217
Commitments and contingencies (Note 20)
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	17,608	16,606
Retained earnings	23,509	22,237
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,018)	(2,143)
Treasury stock, at cost (Class A common: 27,320 and 39,272 shares; Class B common: 64,801 shares)	(1,037)	(1,172)
Total Ecology and Environment, Inc. shareholders' equity	38,106	35,572
Noncontrolling interests	1,702	2,333
Total shareholders' equity	39,808	37,905
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	60,777	59,512
Class A [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	30	30
Class B [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	$ 14	$ 14