A farm labor center is declared to be public property used for essential public and governmental purposes and is for a public use and purpose and involves a governmental function of state concern. As a matter of legislative determination, it is hereby found and declared that the properties involved in farm labor centers are of such character and shall be exempt from taxation. A housing authority may make payments in lieu of taxes out of revenues of such farm labor center to the taxing bodies, except that in no event shall such payments in lieu of taxes to any taxing body exceed in any year the amount which would be received by the taxing body in taxes from the farm labor center if the farm labor center were privately owned and subject to taxation, provided that no such payments shall be made which will result in reducing reserves below the established maximum.