Yep. I live in the St. Louis metro area (not in the city) and we have the same problem. Everyone is leaving the city and metro for the western burbs of St. Francis, Washington, and Jefferson counties where the government is republican and taxes are low.
All of our public schools are horrible.
My wife and I live in Harris county Tx, the same county as Houston. We are talking of moving in a few years to the next county becase taxes are lower. When will the politicos learn lower taxes equal growth.