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Special Charges
 12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2019
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]  
Special Charges Special Charges
During the year ended August 31, 2019, we recognized pre-tax special charges of $1.8 million. These charges were primarily related to move costs associated with the previously announced transfer of activities from a planned facility closure. Additionally, we recognized severance costs for actions initiated during fiscal 2019 related to our ongoing efforts to streamline the business, including integrating recent acquisitions. We expect that these actions to streamline our business activities, in addition to those taken in previous fiscal years, will allow us to reduce spending in certain areas while permitting continued investment in future growth initiatives, such as new products, expanded market presence, and technology and innovation. The severance costs related to fiscal 2019 actions were more than offset by reversals of prior year severance costs related to certain planned streamlining activities that did not occur.
During fiscal 2018, we recognized pre-tax special charges of $5.6 million primarily related to charges of $10.6 million related to the planned consolidation of certain facilities and associated reduction in employee headcount, partially offset by the reversal of previously recorded special charges of $5.0 million. The reversal was related to certain planned streamlining activities that did not occur, primarily due to the sale of our Spanish lighting business during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018.
The details of the special charges during the years ended August 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017 are summarized as follows (in millions):
 
Year Ended August 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Severance and employee-related costs
$
(0.5
)
 
$
5.4

 
$
11.2

Other restructuring costs
2.3

 
0.2

 
0.1

Total special charges
$
1.8

 
$
5.6

 
$
11.3


As of August 31, 2019, remaining reserves were $1.9 million and are included in Accrued compensation and in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The changes in the reserves related to these programs during the year ended August 31, 2019 are summarized as follows (in millions):
 
Fiscal 2019 Actions
 
Fiscal 2018 Actions
 
Fiscal 2017 Actions
 
Total
Balance as of August 31, 2018
$
—

 
$
9.2

 
$
0.9

 
$
10.1

Severance costs
1.9

 
(2.0
)
 
(0.4
)
 
(0.5
)
Payments made during the period
(0.6
)
 
(6.6
)
 
(0.5
)
 
(7.7
)
Balance as of August 31, 2019
$
1.3

 
$
0.6

 
$
—

 
$
1.9