As a general rule, only independent legal entities may sue or be sued. Alaska law specifically gives cities and boroughs corporate status, and the right to sue and be sued. There are no similar provisions for service areas. A service area is a specific geographical area within which a municipal service is furnished by a borough. Its powers derive from statute, charter and ordinance.
Service areas have no corporate status or right to sue under any Alaska statute.
Neither the Kenai Borough charter nor Borough ordinances confer such status or right. Therefore, the North Service Area does not have standing to sue the Borough. 2. The basic requirement for standing in Alaska is adversity. Id. Arguably McGahan has standing under either of these doctrines. However, taxpayer-citizen standing is more appropriate to his circumstances.