Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jul. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 13,496	$ 12,858
Investment securities available for sale	1,497	1,498
Contract receivables, net	25,615	30,949
Income tax receivable	1,230	1,601
Other current assets	1,752	2,078
Total current assets	43,590	48,984
Property, buildings and equipment, net	3,870	4,277
Deferred income taxes	789	853
Equity method investment	2,058	1,463
Other assets	2,522	2,340
Total assets	52,829	57,917
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	5,635	7,771
Lines of credit	0	372
Accrued payroll costs	6,066	5,976
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	54	382
Billings in excess of revenue	3,191	2,607
Other accrued liabilities	1,382	1,974
Total current liabilities	16,328	19,082
Income taxes payable	0	31
Deferred income taxes	0	4
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations	54	66
Commitments and contingencies (Note 21)
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	17,558	17,570
Retained earnings	20,973	23,005
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,885)	(1,795)
Treasury stock, at cost (Class A common: 15,789 and 27,320 shares, respectively; Class B common: 64,801 shares at both dates)	(907)	(1,037)
Total Ecology and Environment Inc. shareholders' equity	35,783	37,787
Noncontrolling interests	664	947
Total shareholders' equity	36,447	38,734
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	52,829	57,917
Class A [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	30	30
Class B [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	$ 14	$ 14