subroutines in jsp?

Sorry, but this is not possible.  The JSP you write does get converted into a Java class, but you can't add new methods to this class in the way you're describing.

If you would like to get customized behavior from within JSPs, I recommend looking into writing custom JSP functions.  It's actually pretty straightforward to do, and it will provide the flexibility you're attempting to get.
http://java.sun.com/j2ee/1.4/docs/tutorial/doc/JSPIntro7.html#wp77078

The basic idea is that you define a method in a class somewhere, and then you can use special EL syntax to invoke it with parameters.  (But of course, you could just as easily do that by invoking a static method from within a scriptlet.)

You may encounter some issues with EL and JSP versions.  If you do, you might consider trying it with JSP tags instead.  Sun's tutorial is very thorough:
http://java.sun.com/products/jsp/tutorial/TagLibrariesTOC.html

Usually one does subroutines in JSP files differently, something like this:

Put your function at the bottom of your .jsp file:

<%!

private String showMenu()
{
    return "<option selected value=\"upper(ASSESSOR)\">Assessor Name</option>";
}
%>

Then refer to it in your code as

  <%=showMenu()%>

If you do indeed want it in every .jsp page, then I suggest that you put the showMenu() method in a separete .jsp file, and include it in every .jsp page with an include directive, like this:

<%@ include file="/generalmethods.jsp" %>

where generalmethods.jsp contains the showMenu method.

in jsp, the functions and subroutines to be written in the below syntax,

<%!
private String showMenu()
{
    return "<option selected value=\"upper(ASSESSOR)\">Assessor Name</option>";
}
%>

also it has to be called in

 <%=showMenu()%>

what else u want.?

logudotcom -- there's no need to duplicate my response.

sorry, mrcoffee365... since i had the same idea, i have mentioned..

Wow, I was completely wrong about adding methods.  I guess that's what I get for never using scriptlets.  :P

Depending on the version of JSP you're using and how your deployment descriptor is configured, the scriptlet-like solutions might not be allowed.  In that event, a custom JSP function will work for you.

mrcoffee365: I tried adding a private function to the end of my jsp file:

private String mkDbString(String inStr)
{...}

And I got the following error, which I'm not sure I understand:

org.apache.jasper.JasperException: Unable to compile class for JSP:
An error occurred at line: 383 in the jsp file: /pensionAddr.jsp
Illegal modifier for the variable mkDbString; only final is permitted
382:
383: private String mkDbString(String inStr)

By the way, the best book I've found on writing servlets and JSP is the Head First Servlets & JSP book from O'Reilly.  But for the kinds of things you're running into, you might want to look at an article from Sun on the basics on JSP:
http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/Programming/jsp/