Note 3 - Restricted and Escrowed Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Short-term Investments
 3 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2011
Additional Cash and Cash Equivalent Related Text
Note 3 — Restricted and Escrowed Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Short-term Investments

At November 30, 2011, the components of our restricted and escrowed cash and cash equivalents and restricted short-term investments were as follows (in thousands):

               
Balance Sheet
Classification
 
   
Recorded
Basis
   
Holding
Period
(Loss)
   
Restricted and Escrowed Cash
and Cash
Equivalents
   
Restricted
Short-term
Investments
 
Cash
  $ 8,694     $ —     $ 8,694     $ —  
Money market mutual funds
    22,848       —       22,848       —  
Certificates of deposit
    113,775       —       —       113,775  
Trading securities:
                               
Stock and bond mutual funds
    6,310       251       —       6,310  
U.S. government and agency securities
    613       (5 )     —       613  
Corporate bonds
    17,639       (478 )     —       17,639  
Total
  $ 169,879     $ (232 )   $ 31,542     $ 138,337  

At August 31, 2011, the components of our restricted and escrowed cash and cash equivalents and restricted short-term investments

were as follows (in thousands):

               
Balance Sheet
Classification
 
   
Recorded
Basis
   
Holding
Period
(Loss)
   
Restricted and Escrowed Cash
and Cash
Equivalents
   
Restricted
Short-term
Investments
 
Cash
  $ 16,358     $ —     $ 16,358     $ —  
Money market mutual funds
    22,363       —       22,363       —  
Certificates of deposit
    252,627       —       —       252,627  
Trading securities:
                               
Stock and bond mutual funds
    6,473       272       —       6,473  
U.S. government and agency securities
    1,806       (82 )     —       1,806  
Corporate bonds
    16,410       (390 )     —       16,410  
Total
  $ 316,037     $ (200 )   $ 38,721     $ 277,316  

Our restricted and escrowed cash and cash equivalents and restricted short-term investments were restricted for the following (in thousands):

   
November 30,
2011
   
August 31,
2011
 
Contractually required by projects
  $ 7,053     $ 14,696  
Voluntarily used to secure letters of credit
    113,774       252,628  
Secure contingent obligations in lieu of letters of credit
    20,634       20,626  
Assets held in trust and other
    28,418       28,087  
Total
  $ 169,879     $ 316,037  

We voluntarily cash collateralize certain letters of credit if the bank fees avoided on those letters of credit exceed the return on other investment opportunities. We are able to access cash we have pledged to secure various letters of credit by replacing them with letters of credit issued under our Facility. See Note 9 – Debt and Revolving Lines of Credit for additional information about our Facility.