It is hereby found, determined and declared that the creation of any authority and the carrying out of its purposes is in all respects for the benefit of the people of this state in general, and of the participating governments in particular, and is a public purpose; and that the authority will be performing an essential governmental function in the exercise of the powers conferred upon it by the provisions of this article. Accordingly, each authority and, without limitation, its revenues, properties, operations and activities shall be exempt from the payment of any taxes or fees to the state or any of its political subdivisions or to any officer or employee of the state or any of its political subdivisions. Property, real and personal, owned by or leased and used exclusively by each authority shall be public property and therefore exempt from taxation in accordance with section nine, article three, chapter eleven of this code. The revenue bonds or other evidences of indebtedness issued pursuant to the provisions of this article, and the interest thereon, shall be exempt from taxation, except inheritance and transfer taxes.