The powers and functions exercised by the Authority under this chapter and any amendments hereof or supplements hereto are and will be in all respects for the benefit of the people of the State, and for the protection of their health and welfare. To this end, the Authority shall be regarded as performing essential governmental functions in exercising such powers and functions and in carrying out this chapter and of any law relating thereto, and shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments of any character, levied either by the State or a political subdivision thereof, upon any of the property used by it for such purposes, or any income or revenue therefrom, including any profit from a sale or exchange. The bonds or other securities or obligations issued by the Authority, their transfer and the interest paid thereon or income therefrom, including any profit from a sale or exchange, shall at all times be free from taxation by State or any subdivision thereof. The Authority may enter into agreements with any person, other than a municipality, leasing a project from the Authority or operating or managing the project providing for the making of payments in lieu of taxes to any municipality within which the project is located of an amount which may be equal to the taxes on real and personal property which such person would have been required to pay had it been the owner of such property during the period for which such payment is made or such lesser amount as shall be agreed upon by such person and the Authority.