BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Reconciliations of Earnings from Continuing Operations to Adjusted Operating Profit) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2020	May 31, 2019	May 31, 2020	May 31, 2019
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations	$ 64,169	$ 78,551	$ 210,520	$ 112,899
Interest expense	15,409	18,513	47,875	53,671
Income taxes	23,804	29,105	73,981	52,855
Depreciation and amortization	41,765	41,181	124,095	117,602
Amortization of acquired unfavorable contract backlog	(4,348)	(23,394)	(18,676)	(58,202)
Asset impairments	5,983	15	6,513	15
Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations	$ 146,782	$ 143,971	$ 444,308	$ 278,840