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Note 6 - Restricted Cash and Deposits
 12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2012
Cash and Cash Equivalents Disclosure [Text Block]
6. Restricted Cash and Deposits

Restricted cash and cash equivalents on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, amounting to $64.2 million and $77.6 million as of October 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, partially represents cash collateralizing our letter of credit agreements and facilities and is discussed in Note 8.  In addition, we collateralize our surety bonds with cash.  The balances of this surety bond collateral were $6.2 million and $12.8 million at October 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, which was in cash equivalents, the book value of which approximates fair value.  The remaining balance is for customers’ deposits of $27.3 million and $7.1 million as of October 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, which are restricted from use by us.

Total Customers’ deposits are shown as a liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These liabilities are significantly more than the applicable years’ escrow cash balances because in some states the deposits are not restricted from use and in other states we are able to release the majority of this escrow cash by pledging letters of credit and surety bonds.