Finding and declaration of property of tax exemption for housing authorities.

It has been found and declared in the Housing Authorities Law and the Housing Cooperation Law that:

(1) There exist in the state housing conditions which constitute a menace to the health, safety, morals and welfare of the residents of the state;

(2) These conditions necessitate excessive and disproportionate expenditures of public funds for crime prevention and punishment, public health, welfare and safety, fire and accident prevention, and other public services and facilities;

(3) The public interest requires the remedying of these conditions by the creation of housing authorities to undertake projects for slum clearance and for providing safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations for persons who lack sufficient income to enable them to live in decent, safe and sanitary dwellings without overcrowding; and

(4) Such housing projects, including all property of a housing authority used for or in connection therewith or appurtenant thereto, are exclusively for public uses and municipal purposes and not for profit, and are governmental functions of state concern. As a matter of legislative determination, it is found and declared that the property and debentures of a housing authority are of such character as may be exempt from taxation.