TAMPA - Some homeowners dealing with defective Chinese drywall might be able to get some help from Hillsborough County.

County commissioners Wednesday approved shifting $500,000 from money earmarked for blighted areas to replace drywall and other components in homes with the defective wallboard.

As of April 27, the Consumer Product Safety Commission had received 3,244 complaints from 37 states about the problem. In Hillsborough, there are at least 144 single-family homes and 199 condominiums with Chinese drywall.

Officials estimate the cost to repair a home with the drywall is at least $100,000. The drywall emits a sulfuric smell and has been found to corrode metals, including copper.

Jared Leone can be reached at (813) 226-3435 or jleone@sptimes.com.