Note 3 - Restricted and Escrowed Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Short-term Investments
 3 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2012
Additional Cash and Cash Equivalent Related Text
Note 3 — Restricted and Escrowed Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Short-term Investments

At November 30, 2012, 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
  $ 2,573     $ —     $ 2,573     $ —  
Money market mutual funds
    10,412       —       10,412       —  
Trading securities:
                               
Stock and bond mutual funds
    8,582       607       —       8,582  
U.S. government and agency securities
    600       (17 )     —       600  
Corporate bonds
    10,700       (453 )     —       10,700  
Total
  $ 32,867     $ 137     $ 12,985     $ 19,882  

At August 31, 2012, 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
  $ 3,259     $ —     $ 3,259     $ —  
Money market mutual funds
    5,928       —       5,928       —  
Certificates of deposit
    —       —       —       —  
Trading securities:
                               
Stock and bond mutual funds
    9,506       692       —       9,506  
U.S. government and agency securities
    603       (14 )     —       603  
Corporate bonds
    14,052       (529 )     —       14,052  
Total
  $ 33,348     $ 149     $ 9,187     $ 24,161  

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

   
November 30,
2012
   
August 31,
2012
 
Contractually required by projects
  $ 996     $ 1,628  
Voluntarily used to secure letters of credit
    —       —  
Secure contingent obligations in lieu of letters of credit
    —       —  
Assets held in trust and other
    31,871       31,720  
Total
  $ 32,867     $ 33,348  

We may voluntarily cash collateralize certain letters of credit if the bank fees avoided on those letters of credit exceed the return on other investment opportunities, as we have done so in prior years. However, we had no such collateralization as of November 30, 2012 and August 31, 2012.