The county treasurer of any county in this state, in which any resettlement or rural rehabilitation project for resettlement purposes of the United States is located, shall make application to the United States each fiscal year for and on behalf of the county and political subdivisions, whose jurisdiction limits are within or coextensive with the limits of the county, for the payments of such sums in lieu of taxes as the United States may agree to pay on account of the nontaxable property in any such project. In making such applications the county treasurer shall act as the agent of the county and political subdivisions in which any such nontaxable property is situated. The payments received by the county treasurer from the United States on account of said property shall be in consideration of the services and protection afforded such property and the tenants thereon, furnished by the county and its subdivisions.